Graphoepitaxy of self-assembled block copolymers on two-dimensional periodic patterned templates

Self-assembling materials are the building blocks of bottom-up nanofabrication processes, but they need to be templated to impose long-range order and eliminate defects. In this work, the self-assembly of a thin film of a spherical-morphology block copolymer is templated using an array of nanoscale topographical elements that act as surrogates for the minority domains of the block copolymer. The orientation and periodicity of the resulting array of spherical microdomains are governed by the commensurability between the block copolymer period and the template period and is accurately described by a free-energy model. This method, which forms high-spatial-frequency arrays using a lower-spatial-frequency template, will be useful in nanolithography applications such as the formation of high-density microelectronic structures.     

Differences between tight and loose cultures: a 33-nation study

With data from 33 nations, we illustrate the differences between cultures that are tight (have many strong norms and a low tolerance of deviant behavior) versus loose (have weak social norms and a high tolerance of deviant behavior). Tightness-looseness is part of a complex, loosely integrated multilevel system that comprises distal ecological and historical threats (e.g., high population density, resource scarcity, a history of territorial conflict, and disease and environmental threats), broad versus narrow socialization in societal institutions (e.g., autocracy, media regulations), the strength of everyday recurring situations, and micro-level psychological affordances (e.g., prevention self-guides, high regulatory strength, need for structure). This research advances knowledge that can foster cross-cultural understanding in a world of increasing global interdependence and has implications for modeling cultural change.     

Patterns of Organic Matter Accumulation in Soils of the Semiarid Argentinian Pampas

A-horizons of 48 Haplic Phaeozems and Kastanozems in plain sites of the Semiarid Argentinian Pampas under three contrasting management systems (virgin bushland, permanent pasture and continuous agriculture) were studied. Morphological characteristics, organic carbon and total nitrogen levels and E4:E6 ratios were determined on the assumption that both quantity and quality of organic matter should be related to soil texture of parent materials in this region since other soil forming factors are uniform. The more intensive land use produced an averaged decrease of 7 cm in A-horizon thickness and degradation of soil structure, but little changes in color and properties of boundaries to AC horizons. In virgin soils organic carbon and nitrogen contents correlate with silt + clay fractions (r = 0,92 and 0,99, respectively), while E4:E6-ratios are related to clay contents (r = ?0.69*) confirming the strong influence of soil texture. Agricultural-management and pasture use of soils lead to dispersion of these correlations probably because of differential influence of varying intensities of land use within each management system. Soils under continuous agriculture show lower organic carbon contents than virgin soils only at clay + silt > 40%. Eragrostis curvula-pastures seems to be more effective in restoring organic matter and nitrogen levels in sandy but not in loamy soils with respect to virgin soils. This may be due to a better efficiency of E. curvula-roots in coarse than in fine textured soils to produce humificable residues than the autochthonous grass species.     

Vorschlag für einen Index der Allogamieneigung bei der Kulturgerste (Hordeum vulgare L. s. l.)

Zusammenfassung Die Fremdbefruchtungsrate bei Kulturgerste ist in der Regel sehr gering. Einige Anemophiliemerkmale sind aber gut ausgebildet, und unter besonderen Bedingungen kann das Ausmaß der Allogamie recht hoch sein. Aus den blütenbiologischen Merkmalen Antherenejektion (AE), Antherenlänge (AL), und Stigmatafläche (SF) wurden nach zwei verschiedenen Methoden Indices der Allogamieneigung (AN) kalkuliert, mit denen die potentielle Neigung der Gerste zur Allogamie geschätzt werden kann: AN=3,33 (AL·AE)+2,22 (SF·AE) und AN=–3,5+3,58 (AL·AE)+2,29 (SF·AE)Indices der Allogamieneigung werden für ausgewähltes Material des Gaterslebener Gerstensortiments angeführt (Tabellen 1 und 2).

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Proposal for an index of the tendency to allogamy in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. s. l.)

Summary Outcrossing in cultivated barley can be observed relatively seldom. There are some well developed characters of anemophily in barley, however, and under certain conditions a tendency to allogamy can be found. From the flower characters anther extrusion (AE), anther length (AL), and stigma size (SF) in two different manners the following indexes were calculated: AN=3,33 (AL·AE)+2,22 (SF·AE) and AN=–3,5+3,58 (AL·AE)+2,29 (SF·AE)By using these indexes it is possible to demostrate the actual tendency to allogamy in barley. Some results from the barley collection in Gatersleben are shown in tables 1 and 2.

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(Hordeum vulgare L. s. l.)

, , . , , , . , (), (AL) (SF), (AN), : AN=3,33 (AL · AE)+2,22 (SF·AE); AN=–3,5+3,58 (AL·AE)+2,29 (SF·AE); . (. 1 2).

     

Effects of nitrogen and intensive mixing on decomposition of C-labelled maize (Zea mays L.) residue in soils of different land use types

This study investigated the effects of mineral-N addition and intensive mixing (analogous to disturbance by plowing) on decomposition of ¹⁴C-labelled maize (Zea mays L.) residue and soil organic matter (SOM). Soils were collected from the upper 5 cm of three land use types at Edelweiler, Germany: plow tillage (PT), reduced tillage (RT), and grassland (GL). Soils were incubated for 112 days at 20 °C, with or without ¹⁴C-labelled maize residue (4 g DM kg⁻¹ soil), with or without nitrogen (100 mg N kg⁻¹ soil as NH₄NO₃) and with or without intensive mixing.

The effect of mineral-N on maize residue decomposition differed depending on the stage of decomposition and land use type. Nitrogen accelerated residue decomposition rates in the first 5 days in RT and GL soils, but not in PT soil, and decreased residue decomposition rate in all three land use types after 11 days. At the end of the incubation, N suppressed ¹⁴CO₂ efflux in RT and PT soils, but not in GL soil. Mineral-N did not increase SOM decomposition independently on the land use types.

Intensive mixing stimulated decomposition of both plant residue and SOM in all three land use types. However, effects were smaller in GL soil than in RT or PT soil, presumably because stronger soil aggregates in GL would have been less affected by mixing and allowed greater protection of SOM and plant residue against decomposition.     

Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry — A new analytical tool in biogeochemistry and soil ecology: A review article

Soils are structurally heterogeneous across a wide range of spatio-temporal scales. Consequently, external environmental conditions do not have a uniform effect throughout the soil, resulting in a large diversity of micro-habitats. It has been suggested that soil function can be studied without explicit consideration of such fine detail, but recent research has indicated that the micro-scale distribution of organisms may be of importance for a mechanistic understanding of many soil functions. Current techniques still lack the adequate sensitivity and resolution for data collection at the micro-scale, and the question ‘How important are various soil processes acting at different scales for ecological function?’ is therefore challenging to answer. The nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometer (NanoSIMS) represents the latest generation of ion microprobes, which link high-resolution microscopy with isotopic analysis. The main advantage of NanoSIMS over other secondary ion mass spectrometers is its ability to operate at high mass resolution, whilst maintaining both excellent signal transmission and spatial resolution (down to 50 nm). NanoSIMS has been used previously in studies focussing on presolar materials from meteorites, in material science, biology, geology and mineralogy. Recently, the potential of NanoSIMS as a new tool in the study of biophysical interfaces in soils has been demonstrated. This paper describes the principles of NanoSIMS and discusses the potential of this tool to contribute to the field of biogeochemistry and soil ecology. Practical considerations (sample size and preparation, simultaneous collection of isotopes, mass resolution, isobaric interference and quantification of the isotopes of interest) are discussed. Adequate sample preparation, avoiding bias due to artefacts, and identification of regions-of-interest will be critical concerns if NanoSIMS is used as a new tool in biogeochemistry and soil ecology. Finally, we review the areas of research most likely to benefit from the high spatial and high mass resolution attainable with this new approach.     

Genetic Erosion – Examples from Italy<Superscript>1,2</Superscript>

Italy has been used as a country for estimating genetic erosion in crops. It was possible to compare early surveys (from the 1920s to the 1950s), especially on wheats, with results of later missions in the 1980s and 1990s. In the early years, a relatively high genetic erosion was observed (13.2% p.a.). From the 1950s until the 1980s erosion rates between 0.48 and 4% p.a. were estimated. In the little island of Favignana there was an erosion rate of 12.2% p.a. leading to the extinction of the last wheat landraces of this island. There have been no significant differences in erosion rates between field- and garden-crops though there has been the impression that garden crops are better preserved over the long run. Interestingly extinction rates of wild plants (0.13% in the Mediterranean) come close to the average erosion rates of crop plants in the area. ¹Dedicated to Erna Bennett on the occasion of her 80^th birthday ²Lecture presented during the XVII^th Congress of EUCARPIA in Tulln, Austria, 2004