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Termitomyces pakistanensis sp. nov. is a member of an edible genus generally distributed in Asia and Europe. This species has been described as new species based on its different morphology, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of basidiospores. The novelty and degree of endemism is confirmed by analyzing the genetic variation of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1–5.8 S–ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA gene, a universal fungal marker. The evolutionary affinities of new species is also evaluated with Asian and European species by phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences. In our phylogenetic analysis, this genus is found monophyletic comprising of two monophyletic sub clades: Clade I, Microcarpus, with small sized fruiting bodies generally less than 5 cm without pseudorrhiza and Clade II, Macrocarpus, with large sized fruiting bodies generally more than 5 cm having pseudorrhiza. All collections of Pakistani species clustered independently in Microcarpus clade showing their endemic genetic makeup as it is clustering independently. A comprehensive description, photographs of the basidiocarps and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of spores are provided. Research Highlights: It has a new species from Pakistan to world based on the scanning electron microscopy and further confirmed by DNA barcoding.The exact shape and size of basidiospores of this novel species is first time introduced by using SEM analysis.This genus is rarely described from Pakistan.This paper has introduced a two clade, Microcarpus and macrocarpus, in the world for this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the semiotic use of language in the social media campaign of #MeToo to ascertain how far it contributed to the popularity and transformation of the movement. In doing so, the #MeToo movement will be divided for analysis into three waves (thematic and not chronological), signifying different stages of its growth: from the time of its inception, to its period of extreme popularity, till the present day to examine how media discourse and Hollywood celebrities bore a strong impact upon the direction and development of the movement. The primary objective of the research is to explore and analyze the depiction of #MeToo on social media platforms and the ensuing repercussions: the gradual divergence of #MeToo from its original goal of female empowerment to endorsing celebrity culture and triggering misandrist attitudes. A multimodal discourse analysis was conducted upon a sample of ten internet images and seven tweets denoting the three strands of the #MeToo campaign. Michael Halliday's SFL approach was applied to analyze the three meta functions of semiotic language 'ideational, textual and interactional' as identified in the #MeToo discourse. The findings reiterated the stance that although #MeToo may still be running strong as a purely pro feminine movement against gross sexual (male) misconduct, its projection by social media may have different connotations in that it provokes ideologies that are alien to the spirit of the movement. The movement has been criticized for promoting misandry and a misdirected feminist viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper posits that Urdu is a naturally heteroglossic or polyphonic language which was invariably exploited by its white colonizers to suit different administrative and political purposes. A historical overview of Urdu is thus taken to explore its debatable status as an indigenous language, its multiple roles and titles during its long history and its exploitive use during the British Raj. Bakhtin's linguistic theory of Heteroglossia is used as a framework for analyzing data taken from two sources: The "Glossary of the British Raj" and "Kipling's glossary of Hindustani-Urdu-Hindi words". The sample consisted of words chosen to reflect three identities of Urdu during the British rule: postcolonial, functional, and oriental. The findings revealed Urdu's natural tendency to adapt to roles that are diverse in their range and import, for which reason it (Urdu) cannot be restricted to a regional identity. A similar approach is used in analyzing the language's status during the British Raj, a period in which its versatility is best expressed through the diverse uses the colonizers employed it for: a lingua franca, a functional language, the language of the subaltern and last but not the least, the alluring language of the Orient. The paper offers new perspectives for rediscovering a linguistic phenomenon: the Urdu language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study deals with the plectological and molecular analysis as well as use of economically important wild Russuloid mushrooms against food pathogenic fungus Aspergillus niger. Three different species of mushrooms viz., Russla laeta, R. nobilis, and R. nigricans were collected and identified from Himalayan range of Pakistan and are found as new records for this country. Major objective of this study was to highlight the importance of these wild creatures as antifungal agents against A. niger. For this purpose methanolic extract of selected mushrooms of different concentration levels viz., 1, 1.5, 2 and 3% were used. This activity is also first time reported from Pakistan by using this group of mushrooms. Results showed that all tested mushrooms exhibit growth inhibition of A. niger and can be used as biocontrol agents. R. nigricans showed maximum inhibition of fungus growth that is 62% at 3% concentrations while minimum inhibition was observed in R. nobilis at same concentration that is 43.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper posits that Poetry Translation is an unimpeded and uninhibited genre of Translation Studies which allows immense freedom to the translator to perceive and project the source text according to her social, cultural, and moral sensibilities and above all her aesthetic tendencies. This stance is supported through a diachronic and synchronic evaluation of diverse translations of selected passages of Homeric epics: the Iliad and the Odyssey. The research draws upon Eugene Nida's sociolinguistic approach to translation and his concept of Dynamic Equivalence for the interpretation and analysis of the Homeric texts. In doing so, the researcher highlighted the various literary techniques and approaches used by three renowned translators of Homeric epics: George Chapman, Alexander Pope, and Robert Fitzgerald, through a stylistic analysis and explored the socio-cultural factors behind their choice of translation strategies. The findings reiterated the viewpoint that poetry translators over the centuries have adopted fluid approaches to translating poetry in keeping with their individual perceptions regarding the principles that govern the craft of literary translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first detailed report on molecular identification of aboveground fruiting body as well as its ectomycorrhiza, Lactarius species, associated with wide host range. Lactarius sanguifluus growing in association with different host trees: Juglans, Populus and Quercus were collected from Galyat, Pakistan along with soil blocks containing plant roots. The genomic DNA was extracted from basidiocarps and roots of different trees. The internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using forward primer ITS1F and reverse primer ITS4, which generated fragments of 700-750bp. The aboveground sequences showed base similarity more than 99% with L. sanguifluus submitted from Europe (FJ858746, AF249289). The phylogenetic analysis of above and belowground parts of L. sanguifluus showed their clustering in same clade with same species. Sequence data of seven specimens is being published from Pakistan; two belong to epigeous L. sanguifluus (HF559378.1, HF559379.1), four ectomycorrhizal roots; two associated with Quercus incana (HF559374.1, HF559375.1), one associated with Pinus wallichiana (HF559376.1), one associated with Juglans regia (HE615155) and one ectomycorrhizal sequence of L. semisanguifluus (HF559377.1) associated with Q. incana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepiota acutesquamosa and L. cristata (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) collected from Himalayan moist temperate forests of Pakistan were characterized using internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of rNDA, a fungal molecular marker. The ITS-rDNA of both species was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. The target region when amplified using universal fungal primers (ITS1F and ITS4) generated 650-650bp fragments. Consensus sequences of both species were submitted for initial blast analysis which revealed and confirmed the identification of both species by comparing the sequences of these respective species already present in the GenBank. Sequence of Pakistani collection of L. acutesquamosa matched 99% with sequences of same species (FJ998400) and Pakistani L. cristata matched 97% with its sequences (EU081956, U85327, AJ237628). Further, in phylogenetic analysis both species distinctly clustered with their respective groups. Morphological characters like shape, size and color of basidiomata, basidiospore size, basidial lengths, shape and size of cheilocystidia of both collections were measured and compared. Both these species have been described first time from Pakistan on morph-anatomical and molecular basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Populus cilliata and P. euramericana grow in Himalayan Moist Temperate forest of Pakistan, Lahore and its adjacent plains, respectively. Both these species were explored to know the ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity associated with their root system. Morpho-anatomically, 18 ectomycorrhizal types were identified growing in two different ecological zones. Moist temperate region was richer as compared to semiarid region as 15 species were found in association with P. cilliata growing there, while only three were found forming mycorrhizae with P. euramericana. The difference in ectomycorrhizal community composition supported the concept that soil nutrients, organic matter, pH, moisture content and temperature are very important factors to facilitate the growth of mycobionts and their association with roots of higher plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen new species are formally described: Cortinarius brunneocarpus from Pakistan, C. lilacinoarmillatus from India, Curvularia khuzestanica on Atriplex lentiformis from Iran, Gloeocantharellus neoechinosporus from China, Laboulbenia bernaliana on species of Apenes , Apristus , and Philophuga (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from Nicaragua and Panama, L. oioveliicola on Oiovelia machadoi (Hemiptera, Veliidae) from Brazil, L. termiticola on Macrotermes subhyalinus (Blattodea, Termitidae) from the DR Congo, Pluteus cutefractus from Slovenia, Rhizoglomus variabile from Peru, Russula phloginea from China, Stagonosporopsis flacciduvarum on Vitis vinifera from Italy, Strobilomyces huangshanensis from China , Uromyces klotzschianus on Rumex dentatus subsp. klotzschianus from Pakistan. The following new records are reported: Alternaria calendulae on Calendula officinalis from India; A. tenuissima on apple and quince fruits from Iran; Candelariella oleaginescens from Turkey; Didymella americana and D. calidophila on Vitis vinifera from Italy; Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing tip blight of Dianella tasmanica ' variegata ' from India; Marasmiellus subpruinosus from Madeira, Portugal, new for Macaronesia and Africa; Mycena albidolilacea , M. tenuispinosa , and M. xantholeuca from Russia; Neonectria neomacrospora on Madhuca longifolia from India; Nothophoma quercina on Vitis vinifera from Italy; Plagiosphaera immersa on Urtica dioica from Austria; Rinodina sicula from Turkey; Sphaerosporium lignatile from Wisconsin, USA; and Verrucaria murina from Turkey. Multi-locus analysis of ITS, LSU, rpb1 , tef1 sequences revealed that P. immersa , commonly classified within Gnomoniaceae (Diaporthales) or as Sordariomycetes incertae sedis , belongs to Magnaporthaceae (Magnaporthales). Analysis of a six-locus Ascomycota-wide dataset including SSU and LSU sequences of S. lignatile revealed that this species, currently in Ascomycota incertae sedis , belongs to Pyronemataceae (Pezizomycetes, Pezizales).

The present study introduces seven new species, one new combination, one new variety and several interesting taxonomical notes and/or geographical records. Most of the new taxa are Ascomycetes, but the study also includes a new variety of a Basidiomycete. Novel species include Gyromitra khanspurensis (Discinaceae, Pezizales, Pezizomycetes) from Pakistan growing near Cedrus deoadara and Paramyrothecium guiyangense and Paramyrothecium verruridum (Stachybotriaceae, Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes) both isolated from soil in China. New species from South Africa are Sclerostagonospora elegiae on culm litter of Elegia equisetacea, Sclerostagonospora fusiformis on culm litter of Thamnochortus spicigerus, Sclerostagonospora pinguis on culm litter of Cannomois virgata and Sclerostagonospora sulcata on culm litter of Ischyrolepis subverticellata (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes). Hapalocystis berkeleyi var. kickxii with its basionym Hypoxylon kickxii is shown to be a taxon on species level and thus recombined as Hapalocystis kickxii (Sydowiellaceae, Diaporthales, Sordariomycetes), and it is lecto- and epitypified. The new variety Pluteus romellii var. luteoalbus (Pluteaceae, Agaricales, Agaricomycetes) growing on a mossy fallen stem of a deciduous tree is described from Czech Republic. Cortinarius scaurocaninus (Cortinariaceae, Agaricales, Agaricomycetes) is new for Austria, Humicola grisea (Chaetomiaceae, Sordariales, Sordariomycetes) is an interesting new record for Chile. Two taxa are reported as new for Turkey: the lichenicolous fungus Opegrapha parasitica (Opegraphaceae, Arthoniales, Arthoniomycetes) growing partly immersed in the thallus of Aspicilia and the lichen Rinodina zwackhiana (Physciaceae, Teloschistales, Lecanoromycetes) from calcareous rock. Finally, Xerula strigosa (Physalacriaceae, Agaricales, Agaricomycetes), described from China, is confirmed to be present also in Pakistan.