Enlightened Mannhemia haemolytica lung inflammation in bovinized mice

Polymorphonuclear cells diapedesis has an important contribution to the induced Mannhemia haemolytica (M. haemolytica) infection lung inflammation and IL-8 is the primary polymorphonuclear chemoattractant. Using a bovine IL-8/luciferase transiently transgenized mouse model, the orchestration among M. haemolytica, IL-8 promoter activation and neutrophilia was followed in real time by in vivo image analysis.     

Landscape fragmentation,land-use legacy and propagule pressure promote plant invasion on coastal dunes: a patch-based approach

Coastal dunes and sand areas are reported to be among the habitats most invaded by alien species in Europe. Landscape pattern could be a significant driver in invasion processes in parallel with land-use legacy. Fragmentation of natural habitats combined with the availability of propagules from the surrounding matrix may enhance the invisibility of ecological communities. Based on multitemporal land cover maps (1954–2008) and a floristic database, we analyzed how habitat fragmentation, propagule pressure and land-use legacy have affected alien plants’ presence and richness on natural dune patches along the Lazio Coast (Central Italy). Floristic data were derived from an existing geo-database of random vegetation plots (64 m²). A set of landscape patch-based metrics, considered to be adequate proxies of the main processes affecting alien invasion and richness, was calculated. First, we fit a generalized linear model (GLM) with binomial errors to assess which landscape metrics are influencing patch invasion. Second, we extracted invaded patches and, with GLMs, we investigated how landscape metrics affect average alien species richness. Alien invasion and alien richness seem to be affected by different processes: although alien invasion of each patch is strongly associated with its land-use legacy, the richness of aliens is more affected by landscape fragmentation and by the propagule pressure to which patch is exposed. By integrating spatial and temporal landscape metrics with floristic data, we were able to disentangle the relations of landscape fragmentation, propagule pressure and land-use legacy with the presence and richness of alien plants. The methodological approach here adopted could be easily extended to other alien species and ecosystems, offering scientifically sound support to prevent the high economic costs derived from both the control and the eradication of aliens.     

Consuming colonial nostalgia: The monumentalisation of historic hotels in urban South‐East Asia

Abstract: This article examines the renovation and commercial re‐launch in the 1990s of some of the grand hotels built in South‐East Asia during the high colonial era (1880s–1910s) and their social construction as historic monuments. The analysis focuses on architectural enhancement and discursive authentication as the key practices whereby the semblance of historic authenticity is bestowed on these hotels and made available as nostalgia to consumers. The article also considers whether renovated colonial hotels should be regarded as sites of consumption or as emerging ‘mnemonic sites’, filling in the vacuum caused by the progressive obliteration of ‘mnemonic environments’ in South‐East Asia's urban landscape.     

Genetic diversity in bread wheat, as revealed by coefficient of parentage and molecular markers, and its relationship to hybrid performance

Variable results have been obtained in different crop species using geneticsimilarity (GS) estimates based on molecular markers and coefficient ofparentage (COP) to predict heterosis.This study was designed: i) to assess the level of GS among 40 breadwheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars selected in Central and SouthEurope; ii) to compare GS with COP; iii) to correlate the estimates ofparental diversity with the heterotic effects detected on 149 F₁hybrids obtained by crossing the 40 cultivars according to three matingdesigns.The parental cultivars and the F₁ hybrids were grown in severallocations at normal seed density. Significant heterotic effects were detectedfor grain yield and other traits including quality attributes. The parentalcultivars were assayed for DNA polymorphisms using two classes ofmarkers: 338 RFLP and 200 AFLP^® bands were scored. GS estimates werecomputed considering each molecular marker set separately (GS_RFLP,GS_AFLP) and together (GS_TOT). Ample differentiation amongthe parental cultivars was detected with the two marker sets. Although theaverage GS_TOT (0.43) was higher than COP (0.10), the twomeasurements were significantly correlated (r = 0.36, p < 0.01).Correlations between the different estimates of genetic diversity andF₁ performance or mid parent heterosis for grain yield and otherrelated traits were in general low although statistically significant.A more detailed analysis was conducted on 28 F₁ hybridsproduced in a half diallel cross of eight parental cultivars characterized byhigh heterotic effects for grain yield. The GS estimates based on RFLP,AFLP^® markers and also on RAPD were partitioned into general andspecific components. Correlations with general and specific combiningability effects for the measured traits were in several cases statisticallysignificant but too low to be predictive and therefore exploitable in practicalbreeding.     

Application of a low-cost RGB sensor to detect basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) nutritional status at pilot scale level

Precision Agriculture - In this work, basil plants were fertilized with 0, 2.5&nbsp;mM and 10&nbsp;mM nitrogen (with different NO3?/NH4+ ratios), and then monitored using a low-power...     

Soil carbon stock in olive groves agroforestry systems under different management and soil characteristics

The atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased to unprecedented levels during last decades, raising concerns about their effect on climate change. Agriculture and land use change play an important role in atmospheric CO₂ emission and fixation, especially by affecting the soil carbon (C) storage. In this context, agroforestry systems (AFSs) could play an important role contributing to climate change mitigation. Given the importance of olive cultivation in the Mediterranean region, it is important to investigate soil C stock in olive groves, and to assess which agronomic practices could improve the soil C stock in these systems. For this reason, a study was conducted in different olive groves, including conventional and organic management, and a typical silvopastoral AFS. Furthermore, an abandoned olive grove and nearby forest were examined as a comparison. Soil samples were collected in each farm and analysed for C content and physico-chemical characteristics. This study indicates that, irrespective of the management, olive groves in the Umbria region of Italy are characterised by a high level of soil C stock if compared to those growing in other areas and to forest ecosystems, indicating that the practices adopted in the area are not negatively affecting soil C storage. A slightly lower soil C stock was measured in the silvopastoral AFS in comparison to the other farms, while high soil C stock was associated with the use of pomace, suggesting that this practice can be used to further increase soil C stock in olive orchards.