Quantitative analysis of culture using millions of digitized books

We constructed a corpus of digitized texts containing about 4% of all books ever printed. Analysis of this corpus enables us to investigate cultural trends quantitatively. We survey the vast terrain of 'culturomics,' focusing on linguistic and cultural phenomena that were reflected in the English language between 1800 and 2000. We show how this approach can provide insights about fields as diverse as lexicography, the evolution of grammar, collective memory, the adoption of technology, the pursuit of fame, censorship, and historical epidemiology. Culturomics extends the boundaries of rigorous quantitative inquiry to a wide array of new phenomena spanning the social sciences and the humanities.     

Productivity,Respiration, and Light-Response Parameters of World Grassland and Agroecosystems Derived From Flux-Tower Measurements

Grasslands and agroecosystems occupy one-third of the terrestrial area, but their contribution to the global carbon cycle remains uncertain. We used a set of 316 site-years of CO₂ exchange measurements to quantify gross primary productivity, respiration, and light-response parameters of grasslands, shrublands/savanna, wetlands, and cropland ecosystems worldwide. We analyzed data from 72 global flux-tower sites partitioned into gross photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration with the use of the light-response method (Gilmanov, T. G., D. A. Johnson, and N. Z. Saliendra. 2003. Growing season CO₂ fluxes in a sagebrush-steppe ecosystem in Idaho: Bowen ratio/energy balance measurements and modeling. Basic and Applied Ecology 4:167–183) from the RANGEFLUX and WORLDGRASSAGRIFLUX data sets supplemented by 46 sites from the FLUXNET La Thuile data set partitioned with the use of the temperature-response method (Reichstein, M., E. Falge, D. Baldocchi, D. Papale, R. Valentini, M. Aubinet, P. Berbigier, C. Bernhofer, N. Buchmann, M. Falk, T. Gilmanov, A. Granier, T. Grünwald, K. Havránková, D. Janous, A. Knohl, T. Laurela, A. Lohila, D. Loustau, G. Matteucci, T. Meyers, F. Miglietta, J. M. Ourcival, D. Perrin, J. Pumpanen, S. Rambal, E. Rotenberg, M. Sanz, J. Tenhunen, G. Seufert, F. Vaccari, T. Vesala, and D. Yakir. 2005. On the separation of net ecosystem exchange into assimilation and ecosystem respiration: review and improved algorithm. Global Change Biology 11:1424–1439). Maximum values of the quantum yield (α=75 mmol · mol^?1), photosynthetic capacity (A_max=3.4 mg CO₂ · m^?2 · s^?1), gross photosynthesis (P_g,max=116 g CO₂ · m^?2 · d^?1), and ecological light-use efficiency (ε_ecol=59 mmol · mol^?1) of managed grasslands and high-production croplands exceeded those of most forest ecosystems, indicating the potential of nonforest ecosystems for uptake of atmospheric CO₂. Maximum values of gross primary production (8 600 g CO₂ · m^?2 · yr^?1), total ecosystem respiration (7 900 g CO₂ · m^?2 · yr^?1), and net CO₂ exchange (2 400 g CO₂ · m^?2 · yr^?1) were observed for intensively managed grasslands and high-yield crops, and are comparable to or higher than those for forest ecosystems, excluding some tropical forests. On average, 80% of the nonforest sites were apparent sinks for atmospheric CO₂, with mean net uptake of 700 g CO₂ · m^?2 · yr^?1 for intensive grasslands and 933 g CO₂ · m^?2 · d^?1 for croplands. However, part of these apparent sinks is accumulated in crops and forage, which are carbon pools that are harvested, transported, and decomposed off site. Therefore, although agricultural fields may be predominantly sinks for atmospheric CO₂, this does not imply that they are necessarily increasing their carbon stock.     

西门塔尔牛胰腺间充质干细胞原代培养及其多向分化潜能研究

旨在对西门塔尔牛胰腺间充质干细胞（pancreatic mesenchymal stem cells,PMSCs）进行原代培养并研究其体外分化潜能,为细胞疗法和组织工程学方面提供新的种子细胞。本研究从3月龄的西门塔尔牛胚胎中无菌分离胰腺组织,分别采用胶原酶消化法和组织块贴壁法分离PMSCs,进行原代培养;绘制第3代、第9代、第15代细胞生长曲线并测定群体倍增时间及克隆形成能力,采用免疫荧光检测干细胞表面标志物（CD29、CD44、CD73、CD90、CD34和CD45）,RT-PCR检测干细胞细胞表面标志物（CD29、CD44、CD73、CD90、CD106、CD166、CD34和CD45）;染色体核型分析检测其基因稳定性,通过向成脂、成骨、成软骨和成肝样细胞诱导分化,检测其多向分化潜能。结果表明,两种方法都可成功分离出PMSCs,细胞贴壁后形态均为长梭形,漩涡状生长,生长趋势呈典型的S形;第9代细胞群体倍增时间显著低于第15代而高于第3代（P<0.01）;第9代PMSCs克隆形成率显著低于第3代而显著高于第15代（P<0.05）;免疫荧光结果表明,PMSCs特异性表达CD29、CD44、CD73和CD90,RT-PCR结果显示PMSCs特异性表达CD29、CD44、CD73、CD90、CD106和CD166,未表达造血细胞表面标志物CD34和CD45,与国际细胞治疗学会组织干细胞委员会指定的MSCs表面标记物相对应;核型分析表明,PMSCs为正常二倍体（2n=60,XY）,染色体基因组未发生变异;特异性染色和RT-PCR结果表明,从西门塔尔牛体内获得的PMSCs可分化为脂肪细胞、骨细胞、软骨细胞和肝样细胞。本试验证实两种方法均可成功建立西门塔尔牛PMSCs体外分离培养体系,PMSCs具有活性好、增殖速度快的特点,与MSCs有相似的生物学特性和多项分化的潜能。可为组织工程学提供新的种子细胞。     

Evaluation of finger weeder safety and efficacy for intra-row weed removal in irrigated field crops

Increased demand for pesticide-free food and the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations have created a need for non-chemical weed-control tools. A candidate mechanical tool for controlling weeds in the seeding line (intra-row zone) is the finger weeder. This study thus aimed to evaluate the safety and weed-control efficacy of the finger weeder in various irrigated field crops. Eight field trials were conducted in processing tomato, sweet corn, sunflower, cotton, and beetroot over 2 years. The finger weeder treatments were applied as the sole weed-control method (single or double treatments) and in combination with herbicides. A mini meta-analysis was used to evaluate the overall effect of the finger weeder treatments on crop stand and yield and on weed control efficacy. Weed density in the control not treated with herbicides nor a finger weeder ranged between 2 and 62 weeds m⁻². The finger weeder treatments resulted in a significant reduction in weed density, which ranged between 40% and 90%. The weed density following the double finger weeder treatment was not significantly different from that for the conventional herbicide-based treatment (p = 0.32) and could therefore be considered as an effective environmentally friendly alternative. Furthermore, a single FW treatment integrated with herbicide application gave better weed control than the conventional herbicide treatment (p = 0.04). This treatment was safe for the crops with no significant stand (p = 0.19) or yield (p = 0.29) reductions compared to commercial treatment. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of the finger weeder as an effective tool within integrated weed management systems for conventional agro-systems. The tool offers a rational weed-control solution for sustainable systems under irrigation.     

Three<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orobanche</Emphasis> species newly found on crops in israel

Orobanche amethystea Thuill.,O. loricata Reichenb. andO. pubescens D’Urv. were found to parasitize the roots of cultivated plants in Israel.Orobanche pubescens is known from the local flora, and was now found to cause damage in parsley fields and toTropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium) in ornamental gardens.Orobanche amethystea andO. loricata are known as occasional weeds in Europe and were recently found for the first time in Israel.Orobanche amethystea densely populated vetch fields in Israel, andO. loricata was found in ornamental gardens. A key for the identification ofOrobanche species in cultivated areas in Israel is given, based on morphological features. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 13, 2002.     

Monellia costalis (Fitch), a new host forZoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko andEntomophthora Planchoniana Cornu (Zygomycetes: Entomophthoraceae) in Israel

Two entomophthoraceous species,Zoophthora radicans andEntomophthora planchoniana, were found on the yellow pecan aphid,Monellia costalis, shortly after it was introduced into Israel. This aphid is a new host forZ. radicans anywhere. The fungus was isolated in pure culture and artificially inoculated on three Dipteran species:Musca domestica, Drosophila melanogaster andCeratitis capitata, as well as on the HemipteranEmpoasca sp. from pecan. The identity ofZ. radicans and some new characters,e.g. the production of two kinds of rhizoids, are discussed. The possibility of usingM. domestica as a vector for artificial spread of the fungus, as a means of biological control of various insect pests, is advocated.     

Metabolic Status during Germination of Nano Silica Primed Zea mays Seeds under Salinity Stress

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Priming is a safe, easy, and effective way to increase plant tolerance against stress. This research aims to study the metabolic status of the...     

Response of wheat growth and productivity to exogenous polyamines under lead stress

Polyamines [i.e. spermine (Spm), spermidine (Spd) and putrescine (Put)] antagonistic effects on stress imposed by 2.0 mM lead (Pb²⁺) on growth, yield and its components and changes in the osmoprotectant and endogenous Pb²⁺ concentrations, the contents of some nutrients and tissue health in wheat plants were evaluated. Under the three applied polyamine (PAs) applications, the efficiency of wheat plants to tolerate Pb²⁺ stress in terms of growth and yield characteristics was noticed to varying degrees. The enhancements in osmoprotectant concentrations and plant health [in terms of relative water content (RWC) and membrane stability index (MSI)], and reductions in electrolyte leakage (EL) and plant Pb²⁺ concentration were correlated with the reasonable growth of Pb²⁺-stressed plants and their grain yield. Results point out that, better growth and yield characteristics, MSI, RWC, leaf photosynthetic pigment and osmoprotectant concentrations, and nutrient contents were obtained with seed soaking in 0.25 mM Spm, 0.50 mM Spd or 1.0 mM Put than those generated with seed soaking in water under 2.0 mM Pb²⁺ stress. In contrast, EL and the concentration of endogenous Pb²⁺ were significantly reduced. However, the Pb²⁺-free control positively exceeded the all stressed treatments. Among all tested PAs, 1.0 mM Put showed the best results and thus is recommended, as seed soaking, for wheat to grow well under Pb²⁺ stress.     

Forging a Link between Composting and Sustainable Agriculture

? The concept of composting has always been rooted in a soil conservation philosophy that recognizes the role of organic matter in agriculture. The paradox has been that the recent rise in composting interest has come from the need for waste management solutions which emphasize economical and environmental alternatives, not the need for soil improvement and nutrient recycling. This review traces some early researches on the link between compost application and crop productivity and urges greater support for research that shows how compost can reduce pesticide use, improve farm economics and, in general, support the goals of sustainable agriculture.     

Rates of decomposition of plant residues and available nitrogen in soil, related to residue composition through simulation of carbon and nitrogen turnover

The dynamics of inorganic N in soil following the application of plant residues depends on their composition. We assumed that all plant materials are composed of similar components, each decomposing at a specific rate, but differ in the proportions of the various components. The NCSOIL model that simulates C and N turnover in soil was used to link the rates of residue decomposition to their composition, defined as soluble, cellulose-like and lignin-like C and N, and thereby integrate short and long-term effects of residues on available N dynamics in soil. Five plant residues in a wide range of C:N ratios were incubated in soil for 24 weeks at 30 °C, during which C and N mineralization were measured. The materials with large C:N ratios (corn, rice hulls and wheat straw) were also incubated with NH₄⁺-N to avoid N deficiency. The residues were analyzed for total and soluble C and N. The partitioning of insoluble C and N between cellulose- and lignin-like pools was optimized by best fit of simulated C and N mineralization to measured results. The decomposition rate constants of the soluble and lignin-like pools were assumed to be 1.0 and 10⁻⁵ d⁻¹, respectively, and that of the cellulose-like pool, obtained by model optimization against mineralization of cellulose with NH₄⁺-N in soil, was 0.051 d⁻¹. The optimized, kinetically defined lignin-like pool of all residues was considerably larger than lignin contents normally found in plant residues by the Van Soest procedure. Gross N mineralization of tobacco and rape residues was similar, but N recovery from tobacco was larger, because a larger fraction of its C was in the lignin-like pool. N in rice hulls, corn and wheat residues was mostly recalcitrant, yet rice hulls did not cause N deficiency, because most of its C was recalcitrant too. The soluble components of the residues had strong short-term effects on available N in soil, but the cellulose-like pool was equally important for short and medium-term effects. Soluble and cellulose-like C were 29 and 42% of total C, respectively, in corn and 7 and 50% in wheat. Maximal net inorganic N losses, measured in both residue treatments after 2 weeks, were 42 mg g⁻¹ C applied as corn and 31 mg g⁻¹ C applied as wheat, or 84 and 110 mg g⁻¹ decomposed C of corn and wheat, respectively. Rice hulls immobilized N slowly, but by the end of 24 weeks all three residues immobilized 26-27 mg N kg⁻¹ C applied. The different dynamics of N immobilization demonstrated the need to determine the decomposability of C and N rather than their total contents in plant residues.