Detection of Colchicum autumnale in drone images,using a machine-learning approach

Precision Agriculture - Colchicum autumnale are toxic autumn-blooming flowering plants, which often grow on extensive meadows and pastures. Thus, they pose a threat to farm animals especially in...     

Variation in aggressiveness of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus genotypes amid the ash dieback epidemic

The ascomycete Hymenoscyphus fraxineus causes devastating damage to the European common ash (Fraxinus excelsior). The fungus originates from Asia, where it coexists with native ash species and completes its life cycle by sporulating on degrading ash leaf litter on the forest floor. Given this life cycle of the fungus, genotypes of H. fraxineus with varying degrees of aggressiveness may coexist in infected European ash forests. To test this hypothesis, we cultured 19 single-spore isolates from apothecia collected in a trial of heavily infected ash in Denmark and carried out stem inoculations on young ash seedlings. Microsatellite markers revealed that the 19 isolates were all genetically unique and did not show any genetic structure. High variation was observed among the 19 isolates in pathogenicity on young seedlings. The variation (assessed as necrosis development) was highly significant, but not correlated with the vigour of the fungal isolates when grown on culture media. The results support the hypothesis that aggressiveness of H. fraxineus may not be crucial for its fitness. In this sense, ash dieback disease may differ from other recent emerging infectious diseases on trees. We discuss the variation in aggressiveness of H. fraxineus in relation to durability of resistance and future management of the ash dieback epidemic. The findings of this study call for more research into natural variation in endophytic versus pathogenic behaviour of H. fraxineus on European ash.     

Molecular markers of cancer in cartilaginous fish: immunocytochemical study of PCNA, p-53, myc and ras expression in neoplastic and hyperplastic tissues from free ranging blue sharks, Prionace glauca (L.)

Archival formalin-fixed tissues from wild-caught adult blue sharks, Prionace glauca (L.), were used for immunocytochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), two oncoproteins from the oncogenes c-myc and pan-ras, and a protein product from the tumour suppressor gene p-53. All sharks were caught during summer months between 2000 and 2006 by recreational fishermen off the USA coast in the northwestern Atlantic. The sharks were necropsied on landing and selected organ samples were collected into elasmobranch formalin and processed for paraffin embedding and light microscopy. Paraffin-embedded sections from collected tissue were both stained with haematoxylin and eosin and processed by immunocytochemical techniques using antibodies raised against the PCNA, p-ras, c-myc and p-53 proteins. The lesions examined in this study included two well differentiated adenomatous gastric polyps, a testicular capsular mesothelioma, a gingival fibropapilloma with elements of ameloblastoma, three liver tumours, two pericardial fibropapillomas and six cases of proliferative serositis (pericarditis and peritonitis). Normal and hyperplastic tissues from blue sharks, and human neoplastic tissues served as negative and positive controls, respectively. We detected upregulation of PCNA in many neoplastic, one dysplastic and in some hyperplastic lesions, and positive p-ras and c-myc signals in some of the neoplastic lesions. None of the examined tissues showed positive p-53 signalling. This is the first literature report on immunocytochemical detection of molecular markers of cancer in sharks and in fish of the class Chondrichthyes.     

Effects of heating conditions on the glass transition parameters of amorphous sucrose produced by melt-quenching

This research investigates the effects of heating conditions used to produce amorphous sucrose on its glass transition (T(g)) parameters, because the loss of crystalline structure in sucrose is caused by the kinetic process of thermal decomposition. Amorphous sucrose samples were prepared by heating at three different scan rates (1, 10, and 25 °C/min) using a standard differential scanning calorimetry (SDSC) method and by holding at three different isothermal temperatures (120, 132, and 138 °C) using a quasi-isothermal modulated DSC (MDSC) method. In general, the quasi-isothermal MDSC method (lower temperatures for longer times) exhibited lower T(g) values, larger ΔC(p) values, and broader glass transition ranges (i.e., T(g end) minus T(g onset)) than the SDSC method (higher temperatures for shorter times), except at a heating rate of 1 °C/min, which exhibited the lowest T(g) values, the highest ΔC(p), and the broadest glass transition range. This research showed that, depending on the heating conditions employed, a different amount and variety of sucrose thermal decomposition components may be formed, giving rise to wide variation in the amorphous sucrose T(g) values. Thus, the variation observed in the literature T(g) values for amorphous sucrose produced by thermal methods is, in part, due to differences in the heating conditions employed.     

Response of photosynthesis and superoxide dismutase to silica applied to creeping bentgrass grown under two fertility levels

Abstract

Responses of photosynthesis, Superoxide dismutase activity, and disease tolerance of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds. A.) to soluble potassium silicate (20.8% SiO₂) treatments was investigated under two fertilization regimes during 1997 and 1998. Potassium silicate was applied twice a month at 603 and 1205 mL 100 m^?2 under high or low fertilization regimes in the field, sampled from which were subjected to low soil moisture in a greenhouse environment. Foliar application of silicate stimulated antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the bentgarss, especially under the high fertilization regime. Silicate increased photosynthetic capacity (PC) and chlorophyll content when applied at 603 mL 100 m^?2. Dollarspot disease incidence was significantly reduced with silicate treatment regardless of fertilization regime. Silicate did not significantly impact clipping weight. Under low soil moisture (‐0.05 MPa), silicate also enhanced SOD activity, PC, and chlorophyll content as well as root mass of bentgrass. Results suggest silicate may be used to enhance turfgrass drought and disease tolerance of turfgrass.     

Hydrocarbons Emissions from a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Pilot Plant in Vienna

Hydrocarbons emissions were measured from an aerationtank of a municipal wastewater treatment pilot plant. The collected off-gas samples werecharacterised for C₂–C₇ hydrocarbons usingGC-FID analytical technique while the total volatileorganic compounds (TVOC) were measured using acontinuous hydrocarbon gas analyser. Approximately,the estimated emission rates for 1 m³ of wastewaterfrom this aeration tank were 5 mgC of C₂–C₇hydrocarbons, and an average of 7 gC of TVOC. Withexception to toluene, all other measured hydrocarbonsare emitted less than 1 mgC day^-1. The results supportthe view that a significant reduction in annualemissions of hydrocarbons from wastewater treatmentplants in Vienna has taken place.     

Evaluation of an ultrasonic dispersion procedure to isolate primary organomineral complexes from soils

Soil organic matter can be intimately associated with mineral particles of various sizes. For structural studies, soil organic matter can be isolated in particle size fractions after complete dispersion of the aggregates by ultrasonication. The ultrasonic dispersion energy necessary for complete dispersion was investigated in three A and two B horizons originating from four soils differing in pedogenesis (Gleysol, Phaeozem, Podzol, Alisol), organic C (4.2–34.5 g kg^–1) and clay content (24–294 g kg^–1). Calorimetric calibration of five probe-type ultrasonifiers revealed that the actual energy output from an instrument can depart widely from its nominal output, and that this discrepancy varies from instrument to instrument. Calorimetric calibration is therefore essential for consistency and comparisons between laboratories. Between 450 and 500 J ml^–1 of ultrasonic dispersion energy was enough to disperse completely all samples investigated. The particle size distributions obtained were close to those from standard analysis, except for smaller yields (–20 to –80 g kg^–1) of sand size fractions, which suggests that dispersion by ultrasound is more effective. Based on total C, C:N ratio and distribution of dissolved C, no detachment of soil organic matter from primary organomineral complexes and no redistribution between particle size fractions could be detected in the range 30–590 J ml^–1 of dispersion energy.     

F?ngigkeit von differenziert bestückten Borkenk?ferpheromonfallen in einem nieders?chsischen Forstgebiet bei Hannover w?hrend der Jahre 1992 und 1993

Zusammenfassung  In den Jahren 1992 und 1993 wurden 24 schwarzeTheysohn-Schlitzfallen mit Kombinationen von synthetischen Borkenk?ferlockstoffen, Pheroprax, Chalcoprax, Linoprax und Cembrax, auf ihre F?ngigkeit getestet. Zum Vergleich wurden Fallen mit Einzelbestückung und Zweifachkombinationen von Pheroprax+Cembrax und Linoprax+Cembrax sowie zwei Fallen ohne Lockstoff in einem 24 ha gro?en Forstgebiet aufgestellt. Mit den Fallen wurde die Flugaktivit?t der angelockten Scolytiden ermittelt. Die erhaltenen Fangzahlen vonIps typographus, Pityogenes chalcographys, Xyloterus lineatus undX. domesticus wurden w?chentlich registriert und in Verbindung mit der unterschiedlichen Pheromonbestückung der Fallen diskutiert. Von den drei letztgenannten Arten wurde der Fang von M?nnchen und Weibchen getrennt bewertet. In einzeln mit Pheroprax bestückten Fallen fanden sich die meisten Buchdrucker pro Falle. Ihr Anteil nahm 1993 um 9% gegenüber dem Vorjahr zu. Für den Kupferstecher waren die vierfach kombinierten Pheromonfallen etwas f?ngiger als die einzeln mit Chalcoprax bestückten Fallen. AuchXyloterus-Arten bevorzugten die vierfach kombinierten Pheromonfallen gegenüber solchen, die nur Linoprax enthielten. Die Anzahl der gefangenen Ambrosiak?fer wurde im Verlauf von 5 Jahren stark reduziert. In beiden Untersuchungsjahren wurden neben den gezielt gek?derten Scolytiden 252 K?ferarten aus 49 Familien registriert, von denen 10 Arten eine Pheromonpr?ferenz erkennen lie?en. Der Beifang betrug j?hrlich 0,6–0,7% der Gesamtzahl an gefangenen K?fern. Zu 85–87% war der Kupferstecher am Gesamtfang beteiligt. Der Buchdrucker hatte einen Anteil von 11–14% an der Gesamtausbeute.

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In the years 1992 and 1993 blackTheysohn slit-traps were set up in a forest area near Hanover, Germany. The traps were baited with combinations of the synthetic bark beetle pheromones Pheroprax^?, Chalcoprax^?, Linoprax^?, and Cembrax^?. Their captivity was tested in comparison to singly baited and control traps without pheromone. Additionally, combinations of Pheroprax+Cembrax and Linoprax+Cembrax were tested. The captivity numbers obtained fromIps typographus, Pityogenes chalcographus, Xyloterus lineatus andX. domesticus were discussed in relation to the differently baited traps. In the latter three species, females and males were separated. The periods of flight activity of the four Scolytidae baited were ascertained for both years. Concerning the singly baited traps, Pheroprax captured the highest amount ofIps typographus per trap, its population increased 9% in 1993 related to that of 1992. ForP. chalcographus, the combination of the four pheromones resulted in a little higher number of individuals than in singly baited traps.Xyloterus lineatus preferred the four-pheromone combination, in which Linoprax was present showing a synergistic effect of baiting. In contrary, the baiting ofX. domesticus was lower by the combined pheromones than by Linoprax alone. The latter was found in lower numbers thanX. lineatus. The trapped amounts of both Xyloterus species were continuously reduced throughout the years 1989 to 1993. The Coleoptera species, not specially trapped, amounted yearly to 0.6–0.7% of the collected individuals.P. chalcographus was collected to 85–87%, andIps typographus to 11–14% of the total amount of Coleoptera trapped.