Correct biological timing in Arabidopsis requires multiple light-signaling pathways.

Circadian oscillators provide rhythmic temporal cues for a range of biological processes in plants and animals, enabling anticipation of the day/night cycle and enhancing fitness-associated traits. We have used engineering models to understand the control principles of a plant's response to seasonal variation. We show that the seasonal changes in the timing of circadian outputs require light regulation via feed-forward loops, combining rapid light-signaling pathways with entrained circadian oscillators. Linear time-invariant models of circadian rhythms were computed for 3,503 circadian-regulated genes and for the concentration of cytosolic-free calcium to quantify the magnitude and timing of regulation by circadian oscillators and light-signaling pathways. Bioinformatic and experimental analysis show that rapid light-induced regulation of circadian outputs is associated with seasonal rephasing of the output rhythm. We identify that external coincidence is required for rephasing of multiple output rhythms, and is therefore important in general phase control in addition to specific photoperiod-dependent processes such as flowering and hypocotyl elongation. Our findings uncover a fundamental design principle of circadian regulation, and identify the importance of rapid light-signaling pathways in temporal control.

Comportamiento agronómico e industrial de cinco variedades de tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum mill) en el valle de Sébaco

El presente trabajo de investigación se realizó en la Estación Experimental "Raúl González” •del Valle de Sebaco. Con el objetivo de evaluar el comportamiento agronómico e industrial de cinco genotipos promisorios de tomate. ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill ), usando como tratamientos los cultivares Martí, Topacio y Estela (de origen búlgaro) y UC-82 y VF-134 (de procedencia norteamericana), fue establecido un experimento en Bloques Completo al Azar, con cuatro repeticiones. El comportamiento agronómico de los diferentes genotipos en estudio en cuanto a crecimiento y desarrollo muestra que la variedad Martí presenta la mayor altura con promedio de 62.5 cm., la variedad VF - 134 el mayor ahijamiento con 19, y el mayor número de racimos por planta con promedio de 11; así mismo la variedad. UC - 62 muestra la mayor fructificación con promedio 42 fruto por planta; obteniéndose rendimientos comerciales, no comerciales y potenciales estadísticamente iguales, lo que demuestra que los cultivares de origen búlgaro tienen un comportamiento agronómico similar a las variedades ampliamente cultivadas en el país -UC-82 y VF-134-. El análisis químico de los parámetros agroindustria1es muestran que, UC - 82 y VF - 134 poseen el mayor contenido de sólidos solubles con 5.75 grados Brix. Los cultivares Martí y Estela presentan el coeficiente de acidez más bajo con 8.91% y 9.33% y un índice de madurez de 12.22% y 10.71% respectivamente. Topacio obtuvo la menor cantidad de Residuo Seco Útil con 4.94. El rendimiento teórico de posta, obtenido fue satisfactorio por encima del valores Stan dar establecido ( 22%) por toda las variedades, siendo UC- 62 el cultivar con el mayor valor con 23.53% en relación a los demás tratamientos.

Evaluación de productos naturales para el manejo del gorgojo del frijol (Acanthoscelides obtectus say) y el gorgojo del maiz (Sitophilus zeamais M)

El trabajo se realizó en el laboratorio del Programa Nacional de Postcosecha / INTA , de Junio de 1997 a Diciembre de 1997. El objetivo fue generar información sobre los productos botánicos; Paraíso (Melia Azederach L ), Zorrillo (Petiveria Alliceae L), Tabaco (Nicotiana tabacum,L), Amarguito (Tecoma stan L), Ajo (Alium sativum L) y el producto natural ceniza de diferentes especies de madera, para el control de plagas en granos almacenados. Para ejecutar el estudio se utilizó una población de gorgojos de frijol y maíz existente en el laboratorio del Programa Nacional de Postcosecha /INTA. El frijol y el maíz previo a ser utilizado para el cultivo y bioensayo se fumigó en un silo metálico de un quintal de capacidad con fosfamina siguiendo las recomendaciones del Programa Nacional de Postcosecha. La forma de utilización de los productos fue; Paraíso (5%), semilla seca a la sombra y molida, Zorrillo (5%), raices seca a la sombra y molida, Tabaco (5%),venas seca a la sombra y molida, Amarguito (5%), hojas seca a la sombra y molida, Ajo (4%), bulbo seco a la sombra y molido y ceniza (25%) de diferentes especies de madera, la cual fue recolectada de diferentes de productores, se utilizó el producto Actellic 2% como testigo comparativo. Se utilizó frascos plástico de dos litros de volumen como unidad experimental en las cuales se introdujeron 1500 granos de maíz y frijol, se utilizaron tres repeticiones por tratamiento. Se utilizaron gorgojos de dos semana de edad. En el bioensayo del frijol el mejor tratamiento de los productos evaluados fue el Paraíso (5%), presentando un porcentaje de daño final del 46% y un porcentaje de pérdida de peso final de 9%, los productos que mostraron menor infestación inicial fue la ceniza y el Amarguito presentando una infestación inicial de 6 y 25 insectos respectivamente. En el bioensayo del maíz el mejor de los tratamientos evaluados fue la ceniza 25%, la cual presentó un porcentaje de daño final de 1.33%, un porcentaje de pérdida de peso final de 0.21%, los tratamientos donde hubo menor infestación inicial fue en el Amarguito y el Tabaco con 15 y 18 insectos respectivamente.

The circadian oscillator gene GIGANTEA mediates a long-term response of the Arabidopsis thaliana circadian clock to sucrose.

Circadian clocks are 24-h timing devices that phase cellular responses; coordinate growth, physiology, and metabolism; and anticipate the day-night cycle. Here we report sensitivity of the Arabidopsis thaliana circadian oscillator to sucrose, providing evidence that plant metabolism can regulate circadian function. We found that the Arabidopsis circadian system is particularly sensitive to sucrose in the dark. These data suggest that there is a feedback between the molecular components that comprise the circadian oscillator and plant metabolism, with the circadian clock both regulating and being regulated by metabolism. We used also simulations within a three-loop mathematical model of the Arabidopsis circadian oscillator to identify components of the circadian clock sensitive to sucrose. The mathematical studies identified GIGANTEA (GI) as being associated with sucrose sensing. Experimental validation of this prediction demonstrated that GI is required for the full response of the circadian clock to sucrose. We demonstrate that GI acts as part of the sucrose-signaling network and propose this role permits metabolic input into circadian timing in Arabidopsis.

Fish assemblages and benthic habitats of Buck Island Reef National Monument (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) and the surrounding seascape: A characterization of spatial and temporal patterns

Since 1999, NOAA’s Biogeography Branch of the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA-BB) has been working with federal and territorial partners to characterize, monitor, and assess the status of the marine environment around northeastern St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This effort is part of the broader NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s (CRCP) National Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring Program (NCREMP). With support from CRCP’s NCREMP, CCMA conducts the “Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring project” (CREM) with goals to: (1) spatially characterize and monitor the distribution, abundance, and size of marine fauna associated with shallow water coral reef seascapes (mosaics of coral reefs, seagrasses, sand and mangroves); (2) relate this information to in situ fine-scale habitat data and the spatial distribution and diversity of habitat types using benthic habitat maps; (3) use this information to establish the knowledge base necessary for enacting management decisions in a spatial setting; (4) establish the efficacy of those management decisions; and (5) develop data collection and data management protocols. The monitoring effort in northeastern St. Croix was conducted through partnerships with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (VI-DPNR). The geographical focal point of the research is Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM), a protected area originally established in 1961 and greatly expanded in 2001; however, the work also encompassed a large portion of the recently created St. Croix East End Marine Park (EEMP). Project funding is primarily provided by NOAA CRCP, CCMA and NPS. In recent decades, scientific and non-scientific observations have indicated that the structure and function of the coral reef ecosystem around northeastern St. Croix have been adversely impacted by a wide range of environmental stressors. The major stressors have included the mass Diadema die off in the early 1980s, a series of hurricanes beginning with Hurricane Hugo in 1989, overfishing, mass mortality of Acropora corals due to disease and several coral bleaching events, with the most severe mass bleaching episode in 2005. The area is also an important recreational resource supporting boating, snorkeling, diving and other water based activities. With so many potential threats to the marine ecosystem and a dramatic change in management strategy in 2003 when the park’s Interim Regulations (Presidential Proclamation No. 7392) established BIRNM as one of the first fully protected marine areas in NPS system, it became critical to identify existing marine fauna and their spatial distributions and temporal dynamics. This provides ecologically meaningful data to assess ecosystem condition, support decision making in spatial planning (including the evaluation of efficacy of current management strategies) and determine future information needs. The ultimate goal of the work is to better understand the coral reef ecosystems and to provide information toward protecting and enhancing coral reef ecosystems for the benefit of the system itself and to sustain the many goods and services that it offers society. This Technical Memorandum contains analysis of the first six years of fish survey data (2001-2006) and associated characterization of the benthos (1999-2006). The primary objectives were to quantify changes in fish species and assemblage diversity, abundance, biomass and size structure and to provide spatially explicit information on the distribution of key species or groups of species and to compare community structure inside (protected) versus outside (fished) areas of BIRNM. (PDF contains 100 pages).

Stability analysis of RF amplifiers based on MIMO pole-zero identification

Spurious oscillations are one of the principal issues faced by microwave and RF circuit designers. The rigorous detection of instabilities or the characterization of measured spurious oscillations is still an ongoing challenge. This project aims to create a new stability analysis CAD program that tackles this chal- lenge. Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) pole-zero identification analysis is introduced on the program as a way to create new methods to automate the stability analysis process and to help designers comprehend the obtained results and prevent incorrect interpretations. The MIMO nature of the analysis contributes to eliminate possible controllability and observability losses and helps differentiate mathematical and physical quasi-cancellations, products of overmodeling. The created program reads Single Input Single Output (SISO) or MIMO frequency response data, and determines the corresponding continuous transfer functions with Vector Fitting. Once the transfer function is calculated, the corresponding pole/zero diagram is mapped enabling the designers to analyze the stability of an amplifier. Three data processing methods are introduced, two of which consist of pole/zero elimina- tions and the latter one on determining the critical nodes of an amplifier. The first pole/zero elimination method is based on eliminating non resonant poles, whilst the second method eliminates the poles with small residue by assuming that their effect on the dynamics of a system is small or non-existent. The critical node detection is also based on the residues; the node at which the effect of a pole on the dynamics is highest is defined as the critical node. In order to evaluate and check the efficiency of the created program, it is compared via examples with another existing commercial stability analysis tool (STAN tool). In this report, the newly created tool is proved to be as rigorous as STAN for detecting instabilities. Additionally, it is determined that the MIMO analysis is a very profitable addition to stability analysis, since it helps to eliminate possible problems of loss of controllability, observability and overmodeling.