Blue sticky traps are more efficient for the monitoring of Lygus rugulipennis (Heteroptera, Miridae) than yellow sticky traps

Selostus: Siniset liimapyydykset ovat keltaisia liimapyydyksiä tehokkaampia peltoluteen tarkkailussa

Assessing the environmental impact of water consumption by energy crops grown in Spain

The environmental impact of the water consumption of four typical crop rotations grown in Spain, including energy crops, was analyzed and compared against Spanish agricultural and natural reference situations. The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used for the assessment of the potential environmental impact of blue water (withdrawal from water bodies) and green water (uptake of soil moisture) consumption. The latter has so far been disregarded in LCA. To account for green water, two approaches have been applied: the first accounts for the difference in green water demand of the crops and a reference situation. The second is a green water scarcity index, which measures the fraction of the soil-water plant consumption to the available green water. Our results show that, if the aim is to minimize the environmental impacts of water consumption, the energy crop rotations assessed in this study were most suitable in basins in the northeast of Spain. In contrast, the energy crops grown in basins in the southeast of Spain were associated with the greatest environmental impacts. Further research into the integration of quantitative green water assessment in LCA is crucial in studies of systems with a high dependence on green water resources.

Enchimento de sementes em linhas quase-isogênicas de trigo com presença e ausência do caráter "stay-green"

O caráter "stay-green" (permanência da cor verde nas plantas) tem sido utilizado para reduzir a senescência em trigo, resultando no aumento funcional da área foliar, e, conseqüentemente, na elevação da taxa e da duração do enchimento da semente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a taxa de acúmulo de matéria seca e a duração do período de enchimento da semente de linhas quase-isogênicas de trigo diferenciadas quanto à presença e ausência do caráter "stay-green". O experimento foi conduzido no Centro Experimental da Palma, Pelotas, RS. Foram utilizadas quatro linhas quase-isogênicas: F6-SG e F6-SZ, no ano de 2000 e F7-SG e F7-SZ no ano 2001, com cinco repetições. O caráter "stay-green" permitiu maior deposição de reservas na semente na fase próxima do ponto de maturidade fisiológica. A duração do período de enchimento da semente esteve associada ao acúmulo de matéria seca na semente, promovendo um maior peso médio da semente. Assim, o progresso do caráter taxa de enchimento da semente poderá ser obtido por meio de seleções de plantas com maior peso médio da semente.

A new green fluorescent protein-based bacterial biosensor for analysing phenanthrene fluxes.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading strain Burkholderia sp. RP007 served as host strain for the design of a bacterial biosensor for the detection of phenanthrene. RP007 was transformed with a reporter plasmid containing a transcriptional fusion between the phnS putative promoter/operator region and the gene encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP). The resulting bacterial biosensor--Burkholderia sp. strain RP037--produced significant amounts of GFP after batch incubation in the presence of phenanthrene crystals. Co-incubation with acetate did not disturb the phenanthrene-specific response but resulted in a homogenously responding population of cells. Active metabolism was required for induction with phenanthrene. The magnitude of GFP induction was influenced by physical parameters affecting the phenanthrene flux to the cells, such as the contact surface area between solid phenanthrene and the aqueous phase, addition of surfactant, and slow phenanthrene release from Model Polymer Release System beads or from a water-immiscible oil. These results strongly suggest that the bacterial biosensor can sense different phenanthrene fluxes while maintaining phenanthrene metabolism, thus acting as a genuine sensor for phenanthrene bioavailability. A relationship between GFP production and phenanthrene mass transfer is proposed.

1945 51th GA Inaugural Address by Governor Blue, January 11, 1945

This is the Inaugural Address of Governor to the General Assembly.

1947 52th GA Inaugural Address by Governor Blue, January 16, 1947

This is the Inaugural Address of Governor to the General Assembly.

First detection of Waddlia chondrophila in Africa using SYBR Green real-time PCR on veterinary samples.

Waddlia chondrophila is a strict intracellular microorganism belonging to the order Chlamydiales that has been isolated twice from aborted bovine fetuses, once in USA and once in Germany. This bacterium is now considered as an abortigenic agent in cattle. However, no information is available regarding the presence of this bacterium in Africa. Given the low sensitivity of cell culture to recover such an obligate intracellular bacterium, molecular-based diagnostic approaches are warranted. This report describes the development of a quantitative SYBR Green real-time PCR assay targeting the recA gene of W. chondrophila. Analytical sensitivity was 10 copies of control plasmid DNA per reaction. No cross-amplification was observed when testing pathogens that can cause abortion in cattle. The PCR exhibited a good intra-run and inter-run reproducibility. This real-time PCR was then applied to 150 vaginal swabs taken from Tunisian cows that have aborted. Twelve samples revealed to be Waddlia positive, suggesting a possible role of this bacterium in this setting. This new real-time PCR assay represents a diagnostic tool that may be used to further study the prevalence of Waddlia infection.

Higher plants use LOV to perceive blue light.

Higher plants use several classes of blue light receptors to modulate a wide variety of physiological responses. Among them, both the phototropins and members of the Zeitlupe (ZTL) family use light oxygen voltage (LOV) photosensory domains. In Arabidopsis, these families comprise phot1, phot2 and ZTL, LOV Kelch Protein 2 (LKP2), and Flavin-binding Kelch F-box1 (FKF1). It has now been convincingly shown that blue-light-induced autophosphorylation of the phot1 kinase domain is an essential step in signal transduction. Recent experiments also shed light on the partially distinct photosensory specificities of phot1 and phot2. Phototropin signaling branches rapidly following photoreceptor activation to mediate distinct responses such as chloroplast movements or phototropism. Light activation of the LOV domain in ZTL family members modulates their capacity to interact with GIGANTEA (GI) and their ubiquitin E3 ligase activity. A complex between GI and FKF1 is required to trigger the degradation of a repressor of CO (CONSTANS) expression and thus modulates flowering time. In contrast, light-regulated complex formation between ZTL and GI appears to limit the capacity of ZTL to degrade its targets, which are part of the circadian oscillator.

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Blue Grass, Iowa for the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Blue Grass, Iowa for the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014

Ultrastructural changes of the internal limiting membrane removed during indocyanine green assisted peeling versus conventional surgery for an idiopathic epimacular membrane

Purpose:To evaluate the histological features of cellular retinal fragments on the internal limiting membrane (ILM) removed during epiretinal membrane peeling surgery with and without the aid of ICG diluted in 5% glucose Methods:ILM specimens removed from 88 eyes undergoing vitrectomy and membrane peeling surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane between 1995 and 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Surgery was performed in all cases by the same surgeon using the same technique. ICG was diluted with 5% glucose. Histological analysis focused on the presence and characteristics of retinal structures on the retinal surface of the ILM. Statistical analysis compared the results between group I (conventional surgery without ICG) and group II (ICG-assisted peeling) Results:Seventy-one eyes underwent EMM surgery without the aid of ICG (group I) and seventeen underwent EMM ICG-assisted surgery assisted using ICG (group II). The amount of Muller cell debris on the retinal surface of the ILM was more significant in the group I (no ICG) than in the group II (ICG) (40.8 versus 11.8; p = 0.024). Large fragments of Muller cells were more frequently observed in the group I (no ICG) than in the group II (ICG) (63.4% versus 23.5%; p= 0.003).The presence of larger retinal elements such as neural axons and vessels were observed attached to retinal face of the ILM in 5 (7%) cases of the no-ICG group. No such retinal elements were detected in any of the histological ILM specimens of the ICG-assisted group Conclusions:The use of ICG diluted with 5% glucose in the aid of ILM removal during epiretinal membrane surgery was associated with less retinal debris attached to retinal face of the ILM compared to surgery in which ICG was not used. Our findings contradict previous reports in the literature, in which use of ICG diluted with balanced salt solution (BSS) was associated with more retinal fragments attached to the retinal face of the ILM. According to our results, we hypothesize that diluting ICG with 5% glucose may decrease the adhesion of the ILM to the underlying retinal layers such that less retinal debris is removed with peeling of the ILM.

Green manure incorporation timing for organically grown broccoli

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of incorporation timing of the velvet bean (Stizolobium cinereum) (GM) on both organic broccoli yield and N status. Mineral N content in the soil, biologically fixed N recovery by broccoli, GM biomass decomposition and N release kinetics were also determined. Plots were fertilized with 12 Mg ha-1 of organic compost and received GM either at 0, 15, 30 or 45 days after transplant. Other treatments were compost (12 or 25 Mg ha-1), GM, mineral fertilizers and control (no fertilizer). The data were collected in four completely randomized blocks. GM decomposition increased mineral N content in soil as rapidly as mineral fertilizer or the supply of 25 Mg ha-1 of compost. The N half-life in GM (24 days) is smaller than the mass half-life (35 days) and the biological fixation contributed with 23.6% of N present in the aboveground biomass of broccoli. The result suggests a higher synchrony between the crop relative growth rate and N release from the GM when incorporated at crop early growth stage. The incorporation of GM until 15 days after transplanting replaces 50% of the highest compost dose, without yield loss.