Development of a smartphone-based peanut data logging system

Precision Agriculture - The southeastern states of the USA, namely Georgia, Florida and Alabama, account for two-thirds of the total peanut production in the USA. Determining the optimal harvest...     

Rhodium-102 Fallout: Variations in Deposition and Concentrations in Precipitation

Rhodium-102 was produced as a tracer for U.S. high-altitude detonations in August 1958 and has been detected and monitored in precipitation since October 1960. Between January and September 1961, when atmospheric tests were resumed, the contribution of this high-altitude debris in fallout increased.     

Expression analysis of melatonin receptor subtypes in the ovary of domestic chicken

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), an indole hormone, regulates various biological functions through three different receptor subtypes (Mel-1a, Mel-1b, and Mel-1c). However, the distribution of different melatonin receptor subtypes in chicken reproductive tissues was not known. In the present investigation, the partial sequences of ovarian melatonin receptor subtypes (Mel-1a, Mel-1b, and Mel-1c) were characterized. Further, the expression profile of melatonin receptor subtypes in the granulosa and theca layers of different preovulatory and postovulatory follicles (POF) were studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of all three subtypes of melatonin receptors were observed in the ovary of domestic chicken. Analysis of partial sequences of ovarian melatonin receptors revealed that the melatonin subtypes were identical to the brain receptors. In small white ovary follicles, we observed only the expression of mel-1b receptors, but not mel-1a or mel-1c receptors. In yellow follicles, all the three subtypes of receptors expression were noticed. Interestingly, we observed the expression of mel-1a receptor only in thecal layer, but not in granulosa layer. In contrast, mel-1b and -1c receptors were expressed in both granulosa and thecal layer. During the regression of POF, we observed significant upregulation of melatonin receptors (mel-1a and 1c) expression, that downregulated in the later stages of regression. We assume that the expression of melatonin receptors might have been influenced by the atresia or apoptosis of different follicular layers in POF. Our findings suggest that the differential distribution of melatonin receptor subtypes might have distinct downstream cellular functions in the ovarian tissues.     

Use of C-reactive protein to predict outcome in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis

Background – There is a high mortality rate in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or sepsis. Therefore, an early diagnosis and prognostic assessment is important for optimal therapeutic intervention. The objective of the study was to evaluate if baseline values and changes in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) might predict survival in dogs with SIRS and sepsis.
Design – Prospective study; July 2004 to July 2005.
Setting – Small Animal Clinic, Berlin, Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Munich.
Animals – Sixty-one dogs.
Measurements and Main Results – For the CRP analysis blood was drawn on day 0, 1, and 2; CRP was measured using a commercial ELISA test kit. Thirteen dogs suffered from nonseptic SIRS and 48 dogs from sepsis. The 14-day survival rate was 61% (69% nonseptic SIRS, 58% sepsis). Serum CRP was higher in sick dogs compared with controls ( P <0.001). Over the 3-day period surviving dogs ( n =31) displayed a significantly greater decrease in CRP than nonsurvivors ( n =10) ( P =0.001). No correlation was found between the initial CRP concentrations and the survival rate. The changes in CRP corresponded to the survival rate ( P =0.01).
Conclusion – There was no significant relationship between the survival rate in dogs with nonseptic SIRS or sepsis and the initial serum CRP concentrations. There was a correlation between decreasing CRP concentrations and recovery from disease. However, the changes in CRP concentrations over a 3-day period correctly predicted survival in 94% of dogs and death in 30% of the dogs (false positive rate 22%).     

Plant–soil interactions in wheat and coriander crops driving arthropod assemblies through volatile compounds

Arthropod assemblies are frequently determined by bottom-up interactions that include emission of organic volatile compounds. Therefore, changes in soil characteristics associated with land use history can influence the volatile emissions of plants affecting the structure of arthropod assemblies in croplands. This study aims (1) to study the relationships between soil degradation levels due to land-use history, and the change in particular soil chemical characteristics; (2) to analyze plant–soil interactions quantifying the effect of soil degradation on the production of biomass and grain yield of coriander and wheat crops, and on the production and chemical composition of volatile secondary metabolites in coriander grain; (3) to find the relationship between the analyzed plant–soil interactions and the emission of volatile signals affecting arthropod assemblies; and (4) to determine the relationship between particular chemical soil characteristics and the structure of arthropod assemblies. For these purpose, two experiments were carried out in which volatile compounds were conducted from source plots with soils with different levels of degradation, sown with wheat or coriander, to sink plots with similar soil, sown with wheat. Crops were evaluated on source plots, and the arthropods communities were assessed on sink-plots. Coriander produced high biomass, grain yield and essential oil in the favorable environments and wheat produced higher biomass and grain yield in soil with low degradation than with high degradation. Particular chemical soil elements, for example, Na, Fe, Mn, N and CEC and essential oil components, for example, γ-trepanned, p-cymene, asinine and β-pinene could be involved in the arthropods assemblies. Based on these results, arthropods communities in agricultural systems are, at least, partially controlled by chemical signals, which depend on plant–soil interactions.     

Über das Vorkommen des Hausbockes (Hylotrupes bajulus) in Lettland

Ohne Zusammenfassung Mit 1 Abbildung     

Effects of long-term phosphorus fertilizer inputs and seasonal conditions on organic soil phosphorus cycling under grazed pasture

Soil microbes and phosphatase enzymes play a critical role in organic soil phosphorus (P) cycling. However, how long-term P inputs influence microbial P transformations and phosphatase enzyme activity under grazed pastures remains unclear. We collected top-soil (0–75 mm) from a grazed pasture receiving contrasting P inputs (control, 188 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of single super phosphate [SSP], and 376 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of SSP) for more than 65 years. Olsen P, microbial biomass P, and acid and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities were measured regularly over a 2-year period. Pasture dry matter and soil chemical properties were also investigated. Results showed that long-term P inputs significantly increased pasture dry matter, total N, and the concentrations of ${\mathrm{NO}}_3^{–}$–N but significantly decreased soil pH and the concentrations of ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$–N. Total C was not affected by P fertilization. Although Olsen P significantly increased with increasing long-term P inputs, microbial biomass P was similar under P fertilized treatments. Long-term P inputs decreased acid phosphatase activity but increased alkaline phosphatase activity. Microbial biomass P was similar across seasons in the control but decreased in spring and autumn while increased in summer and winter under P fertilized treatments. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly affected by season and followed similar seasonal trends being maximum in summer and minimum in winter regardless of P treatment. Correlation and principal component analysis revealed that acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly positively correlated with soil temperature and significantly negatively correlated with soil moisture. In contrast, Olsen P and microbial biomass P were weakly correlated with environmental conditions. The findings of this study highlight the intertwined relationship between organic P cycling and the availability of C and N in soil systems and the need to integrate both soil moisture and temperature in models predicting organic P mineralization, especially in the context of global climate change.