Partially Molten Middle Crust Beneath Southern Tibet: Synthesis of Project INDEPTH Results

INDEPTH geophysical and geological observations imply that a partially molten midcrustal layer exists beneath southern Tibet. This partially molten layer has been produced by crustal thickening and behaves as a fluid on the time scale of Himalayan deformation. It is confined on the south by the structurally imbricated Indian crust underlying the Tethyan and High Himalaya and is underlain, apparently, by a stiff Indian mantle lid. The results suggest that during Neogene time the underthrusting Indian crust has acted as a plunger, displacing the molten middle crust to the north while at the same time contributing to this layer by melting and ductile flow. Viewed broadly, the Neogene evolution of the Himalaya is essentially a record of the southward extrusion of the partially molten middle crust underlying southern Tibet.     

Crystalline Ropes of Metallic Carbon Nanotubes

Fullerene single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) were produced in yields of more than 70 percent by condensation of a laser-vaporized carbon-nickel-cobalt mixture at 1200degreesC. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed that these SWNTs are nearly uniform in diameter and that they self-organize into "ropes," which consist of 100 to 500 SWNTs in a two-dimensional triangular lattice with a lattice constant of 17 angstroms. The x-ray form factor is consistent with that of uniformly charged cylinders 13.8 +/- 0.2 angstroms in diameter. The ropes were metallic, with a single-rope resistivity of <10(-4) ohm-centimeters at 300 kelvin. The uniformity of SWNT diameter is attributed to the efficient annealing of an initial fullerene tubelet kept open by a few metal atoms; the optimum diameter is determined by competition between the strain energy of curvature of the graphene sheet and the dangling-bond energy of the open edge, where growth occurs. These factors strongly favor the metallic (10,10) tube with C5v symmetry and an open edge stabilized by triple bonds.     

RELATIVE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SOME PRUNUS ROOTSTOCKS IN HYDROPONICS TO IRON DEFICIENCY

The susceptibility of eleven Prunus rootstocks to iron (Fe) deficiency was studied in hydroponics by growing them with 20 μM Fe, 0 μM Fe or 3 μM Fe+10 mM sodium bicarbonate. Based on the intensity of leaf chlorosis, the peach-almonds PR 204/84, Stylianidis K and KID2, produced at the Pomology Institute of Naoussa (Greece), showed the same or even greater tolerance than GF 677, the Greek peach-almond Retsou x Nemaguard, the plum-almond Myrandier 617 and the peaches GF 305, IDS 37, Greek wild peach seedling the greatest susceptibility whereas the plums St. Julien GF655/2 and Myrobalan 29C intermediate. Rootstocks without Fe presented significantly lower nitrogen and Fe whereas with bicarbonate significantly lower nitrogen, phosphorus, Fe and zinc. Root ferric chelate reductase activity was significantly increased in ?Fe rootstocks but negatively correlated with their tolerance; physiological and morphological changes were observed along a zone of a few centimeters length, 1–2 mm behind the root tip.     

Genotypic variation and relationships between seedling and adult plant traits in maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines grown under contrasting nitrogen levels

Genotypes with better root development have good nutrient acquisition capacity and may yield better under limited nitrogen (N) conditions and consequently can help reduce the N fertilization rate and hence mitigate some economic and ecological problems. This study focused on the genotypic variation among diverse maize inbred lines for seedling and adult plant traits under contrasting N levels. Seventy-four lines were screened under high and low N levels in a climate chamber and in the field. High phenotypic diversity was observed for seedling and adult plant traits together with moderate to high broad-sense heritability estimates. Seedling total root length and root dry weight were significantly correlated with other root traits in maize. Of the adult plant traits evaluated in the field, the anthesis-silking interval and the leaf chlorophyll contents were significantly correlated with grain yield under both low and high N levels. In one location, the seminal root length was correlated with grain yield both under low and high N levels and the root dry weight was correlated with grain yield under high N. Selection indices based on secondary root traits along with grain yield could lead to an increase in selection efficiency for grain yield under N stress condition. By identifying lines with better root development, particularly lines with longer SRL, it may be possible to select inbred lines with higher grain yield particularly under low N condition.     

History and development of plastination techniques

Plastination was a game‐changing invention for macroscopic anatomical preparation. The method yielded dry, odourless, tangible and durable specimens which allowed new exhibition and teaching set‐ups and paved the way for sophisticated preparations and spectacular positioning of specimens. Despite the impact of the new method, there have been similar techniques in place before. Exsiccation techniques, polymer embeddings and specimen impregnation with hardening substances were earlier methods which already included the main concepts that were later combined and refined in plastination. S10 silicone plastination, the technique most commonly known and applied, was followed by plastination methods suitable for research and sectional anatomy teaching. Numerous variations of sheet plastination techniques allow research applications and new ways of presenting topographic relations and mesoscopic insights. Besides the development of plastination techniques in sensu stricto, related techniques had a renaissance with new applications and developments, including corrosion casting and diaphonization methods. This brief review shall provide a historical context of plastination including some anecdotal spotlights on the ideas and innovations that lead to nowadays plastination techniques.     

The economic impacts to commercial farms from invasive monkeys in Puerto Rico

Beginning in the 1930s and continuing through the 1970s, rhesus macaques and patas monkeys were introduced to presumed secure locations, primarily coastal islets, in Puerto Rico. Escapes into the wild began almost immediately after introduction. Today the combined range of the two species covers approximately 600 km² of southwestern Puerto Rico, where serious conflicts with agricultural interests have resulted. The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture surveyed about 90% of commercial farmers in the range of the monkeys to begin quantifying damage by monkeys and the associated economic losses during the years 2002–2006. During that time, total economic losses by commercial farmers to monkeys increased from $1.13 million USD to over $1.46 million per year. Of these amounts, the economic losses due to farmers avoiding monkey damage by switching from fruit and vegetable crops to less rewarding land use (primarily hay or pastureland) increased from $490,000 to $1.33 million per year. The losses reported from the survey represent only a portion of economic losses to the invasive monkeys. Subsistence and other smaller farms and agriculture were not included in the survey. We also discuss many other economic issues surrounding the impacts of the invasive monkeys, but for which sufficient data are not available for economic analyses. These include concerns such as destruction of native (especially endangered) wildlife, threat of disease spread, and property damage, all of which would also have to be considered to fully evaluate invasive monkey economic impacts in Puerto Rico.     

Cryopreservation of Malus cultivars: Comparison of two droplet protocols

Two droplet procedures, droplet-vitrification (PVS2) and droplet (DMSO) were applied for cryopreservation of in vitro cultured apple (Malus domestica Borkh., cvs. Florina, Idared, Colmar and Rebra) plants. The highest post-thaw regrowth rates (70% for cv. Florina, 66% for cv. Idared, 63% for cv. Colmar and 60% for cv. Rebra) were achieved after using the droplet-vitrification (PVS2) protocol. The excised shoot tips (2–3 mm in length) were precultured in 0.5 M sucrose enriched media for 24 h. Subsequently they were transferred in PVS2 vitrification solution for 30 or 40 min (depending on cultivar) at 24 °C and then immersed in liquid nitrogen. Rewarming was performed in liquid MS medium at 24 °C. Plants regenerated from cryopreserved shoot tips did not display any sign of morphological alteration or abnormalities in growth in comparison with control plants.     

Association with TGF‐β1 Gene Polymorphisms and Reproductive Performance of Large White Pig

As a multifunctional cytokine, transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1) was detected in the utero‐placental interface during early pregnancy in the pig and believed to enhance trophoblast attachment to the endometrium. In this experiment, we selected TGF‐β1 as the candidate gene affecting litter size in pigs. Four polymorphic loci of TGF‐β1 gene were found by PCR‐SSCP (single‐strand conformation polymorphism) in Large white sows (n = 567): C→T mutation at 33nt in the intron 4; G→A mutation at 179nt in the intron 6; C→T mutation at 1043nt in the intron 6; GG→AA linkage mutations at 2490nt and 2494nt respectively. We haplotyped these SNPs as: CGCAA (denote as P) and TATGG (denote as K). The effects of three haplotypic combinations (HCs) of PP, PK and KK on litter sizes were investigated by a linear model. It was found that for the first parity litters, the least squares mean for total number born (TNB) of KK was 1.02 piglets/litter, higher than that of PK (p < 0.05), 0.49 piglets/litter higher than that of PP (p > 0.1). There were no significant differences between HCs on the second parity. The result indicated that KK HCs was significantly associated with pig litter size.     

Emerging pests and diseases of South‐east Asian cassava: a comprehensive evaluation of geographic priorities,management options and research needs

Cassava is a major staple, bio‐energy and industrial crop in many parts of the developing world. In Southeast Asia, cassava is grown on >4 million ha by nearly 8 million (small‐scale) farming households, under (climatic, biophysical) conditions that often prove unsuitable for many other crops. While SE Asian cassava has been virtually free of phytosanitary constraints for most of its history, a complex of invasive arthropod pests and plant diseases has recently come to affect local crops. We describe results from a region‐wide monitoring effort in the 2014 dry season, covering 429 fields across five countries. We present geographic distribution and field‐level incidence of the most prominent pest and disease invaders, introduce readily‐available management options and research needs. Monitoring work reveals that several exotic mealybug and (red) mite species have effectively colonised SE Asia's main cassava‐growing areas, occurring in respectively 70% and 54% of fields, at average field‐level incidence of 27 ± 2% and 16 ± 2%. Cassava witches broom (CWB), a systemic phytoplasma disease, was reported from 64% of plots, at incidence levels of 32 ± 2%. Although all main pests and diseases are non‐natives, we hypothesise that accelerating intensification of cropping systems, increased climate change and variability, and deficient crop husbandry are aggravating both organism activity and crop susceptibility. Future efforts need to consolidate local capacity to tackle current (and future) pest invaders, boost detection capacity, devise locally‐appropriate integrated pest management (IPM) tactics, and transfer key concepts and technologies to SE Asia's cassava growers. Urgent action is needed to mobilise regional as well as international scientific support, to effectively tackle this phytosanitary emergency and thus safeguard the sustainability and profitability of one of Asia's key agricultural commodities. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry