Two Notes on APCol Systems

In this work, we continue our research in the eld of string processing mem- brane systems - APCol systems. We focus on a relation of APCol systems with PM colonies - colonies whose agents can only perform point mutation transformations of the common string, in a vicinity of the agent. The second part is devoted to a connection of APCol systems and logic circuits using AND, OR and NOT gates

Expression of a Grapevine NAC Transcription Factor Gene Is Induced in Response to Powdery Mildew Colonization in Salicylic Acid-Independent Manner

Tissue colonization by grape powdery mildew (PM) pathogen Erysiphe necator (Schw.) Burr triggers a major remodeling of the transcriptome in the susceptible grapevine Vitis vinifera L. While changes in the expression of many genes bear the signature of salicylic acid (SA) mediated regulation, the breadth of PM-induced changes suggests the involvement of additional regulatory networks. To explore PM-associated gene regulation mediated by other SA-independent systems, we designed a microarray experiment to distinguish between transcriptome changes induced by E. necator colonization and those triggered by elevated SA levels. We found that the majority of genes responded to both SA and PM, but certain genes were responsive to PM infection alone. Among them, we identified genes of stilbene synthases, PR-10 proteins, and several transcription factors. The microarray results demonstrated that the regulation of these genes is either independent of SA, or dependent, but SA alone is insufficient to bring about their regulation. We inserted the promoter-reporter fusion of a PM-responsive transcription factor gene into a wild-type and two SA-signaling deficient Arabidopsis lines and challenged the resulting transgenic plants with an Arabidopsis-adapted PM pathogen. Our results provide experimental evidence that this grape gene promoter is activated by the pathogen in a SA-independent manner

Incomplete immunity in a natural animal-microbiota interaction selects for higher pathogen virulence

Incomplete immunity in recovered hosts is predicted to favor more virulent pathogens upon re-infection in the population. The microbiota colonizing animals can generate a similarly long-lasting, partial immune response, allowing for infection but dampened disease severity. We tracked the evolutionary trajectories of a widespread pathogen (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), experimentally passaged through populations of nematodes immune-primed by a natural microbiota member (P. berkeleyensis). This bacterium can induce genes regulated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway effective at conferring protection against pathogen-induced death despite infection. Across host populations, this incomplete immunity selected for pathogens more than twice as likely to kill as those evolved in non-primed (i.e., naive) or immune-compromised (mutants with a knockout of the MAPK ortholog) control populations. Despite the higher virulence, pathogen molecular evolution in immune-primed hosts was slow and constrained. In comparison, evolving pathogens in immune-compromised hosts were characterized by substantial genomic differentiation and attenuated virulence. These findings directly attribute the incomplete host immunity induced from microbiota as a significant force shaping the virulence and evolutionary dynamics of novel infectious diseases

Utilization of exotic germplasm in a Cucurbita breeding program

Crops in the Cucurbitaceae plant family are an important part of agricultural systems worldwide. This family includes economically important crops such as watermelon, cucumber, pumpkins, melons, and squash. These crops are plagued by a wide variety of both insect and plant pathogen pests. Breeding for genetic resistance to these pests represents a key component of many cucurbit breeding programs in both public and private sectors. Sources for disease and pest resistance often include wild species and landraces found across the world. Often, such species show poor adaptability to temperate climates. This limits plant breeders’ abilities to utilize exotic germplasm and introgress valuable traits. Wild species may also show limited compatibility with domesticated species, thus hindering the generation of fertile interspecific breeding lines. Wild species and landraces from tropical regions often fail to flower or flower very late under the long days experienced during the growing season in northern regions. Despite recent advances in molecular genetics such as the sequencing of the Cucurbita spp. genome, little is known about the genetic basis for important traits such as regulation of flowering time. To address this, we first aimed to learn more about the genetic basis for early flowering by comparing flowering time in two different lines of acorn squash with very different flowering times. Flowering time is a complex phenomenon and involves a variety of genetic and environmental factors. We identified a new major locus for acorn squash that promotes early flowering. Next, we evaluated various protocols to determine an optimal method to induce flowering in very late flowering Cucurbita spp. cultigens by grafting them to early flowering rootstocks. We found that early flowering and fruit set of late flowering cultigens could be achieved by grafting them if lateral shoot development occurs on the rootstock and leaf removal is conducted on the scion. Finally, we explored a new source found of powdery mildew resistance discovered in a landrace of tropical pumpkin. We showed that its resistance is conferred by a single gene and this gene appears to be at a different locus than either of the named dominant resistant genes, Pm and Pm-0. These findings should be useful for plant breeders and germplasm curators along with scientists interested in discovering more about the genetic basis and mechanisms behind flowering and disease resistance

General disease resistance loci against biotrophic pathogens in wheat

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Arquitectura, apresentada ao Departamento de Arquitectura da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra, sob a orientação do Prof. Doutor Walter Rossa.Um ano depois de a UNESCO inscrever a “Universidade de Coimbra - Alta e Sofia” na lista do Património Mundial da Humanidade e face ao desafio académico de Coimbra Capital Europeia da Cultura em 2027, este trabalho tem como objectivo analisar e perceber como se alterou a imagem urbana da cidade e de que maneira o branding que proponho para a mesma vai clarificar essa imagem, de forma a criar uma linguagem coerente e clara, que traga valor para Coimbra. O trabalho divide-se em quatro partes. A primeira exibe a importância do branding para as cidades, entendendo que este conceito é fundamental para que Coimbra construa uma visão de futuro, com uma melhoria no espaço público e com uma linguagem coerente entre a Universidade a tudo o que a dinamiza. A segunda parte, analisa a evolução da imagem e do sistema urbano do espaço que escolhi como exemplo de trabalho, a antiga Quinta de Santa Cruz, onde foi criado o “boulevard” da cidade, a Avenida Sá da Bandeira e a Praça da República. Na terceira parte, vou analisar criticamente estes dois espaços de maneira a perceber como alterar a imagem suja que a cidade tem hoje, clarificando-a e sabendo que esta zona tem tudo para ser o verdadeiro centro cosmopolita de Coimbra. Por último, associo a esse exemplo um de outra natureza, mas com ele coerente no compto geral do processo, a criação de um logótipo que vai qualificar a cidade e que vai estar presente na mudança do sistema urbano, ajudando a clarificar a imagem da cidade.One year later that UNESCO aggregated “Universidade de Coimbra - Alta e Sofia” at the list of World Heritage Site and the academic challenge of Coimbra European Capital of Culture in 2027, this work aims to analyze and understand how changed the image of urban city , and that way, how the branding that i’ll propose for the city, will clarify this image in order to create a coherent and clear language that bring value to Coimbra. The work is divided into four parts. A first that displays the importance of branding for cities, and how these concept is fundamental to Coimbra build a vision of future, with an improvement in public space and with identical language between the University and everything that surrounds it. The second part examines the evolution of the urban system and the image of the space that i found as an example to work, the old Quinta de Santa Cruz, where the “boulevard” of the city with the Avenue Sá da Bandeira and Republic Square was created. In the third part i will analyze and criticize these two spaces so that you can understand how to clean the soiled image that the city transpires today, in order to make clear that this space has everything to be the true cosmopolitan center of Coimbra. Finally i will associate this example to other of a diferent nature, but coherent in the overall process, the creation of a logo that will qualify the city and that will be present in the changing of urban system helping to clarify the city’s image

Women Farmers: Pulling Up Their Own Educational Boot Straps with Extension

Women comprise a rapidly growing segment in agriculture. In this article, we examine how a network of women farmers, Extension educators, and researchers responded to the significant increase in women farmers in one state by creating a membership organization that draws on the expertise and resources of the land-grant university and Extension in Pennsylvania to create educational events with networking opportunities. We report 4 years of evaluation data for 37 events indicating educational impact, expansion and enhancement of the network, and marketing strategies for Extension to improve participation of women

The status of storks, ibises and spoonbills in Indonesia

A brief summary is given of the current status in Indonesia of the eleven Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill species occurring in Indonesia. Of these the Storm's Stork, Royal Spoonbill, and White-shouldered Ibis are considered as endangered and likely to disappear in Indonesia within the next decades if no conservation action is undertaken. Ongoing conservation programmes for the species are discussed and additional conservation measures outlined

Effects of Partial Mortality on Growth, Reproduction and Total Lipid Content in the Elkhorn Coral Acropora palmata

Partial mortality (PM) is increasingly common in the Elkhorn coral Acropora palmata and, depending on the causative agent, is potentially lethal. The effects of PM on growth, reproduction and total lipid content in A. palmata were studied by sampling apparently healthy (AH) colonies in comparison with colonies showing signs of PM. Branch growth rates and lesion regeneration rates were estimated using monthly photographs over a four-month period prior to the summer spawning season. No differences were found in the growth rates of colonies with PM compared to AH colonies. The areas affected by PM did not regenerate during the period of the study. Colonization of the lesions by competing species and sediment cover were documented and did not show major changes. During the spawning season, percent fertilization, egg volume and embryonic development were evaluated for comparison between AH colonies and those with PM. Total lipids were also quantified in tissues from three branches per colony. Percentage fertilization was similar in both AH colonies and those with PM. Embryonic development was normal, regardless of proximity to the lesion borders. However, egg volume was significantly lower in PM colonies than in AH colonies. Lower lipid concentrations were found at the edges of the lesions and similar to those found at the growing edges of the branches. The lack of regeneration may be explained by the low lipid concentration, because the polyps adjacent to the lesion do not have an adequate energy budget as a result of the damage. This would also affect their ability to compete against organisms that colonize the site of the lesion, a distinct situation to the rapid regeneration rates characteristic of lesions due to physical injury of the colony. Therefore, we conclude that partial mortality in A. palmata affects the colony, inducing energetic stress due to both competition and decreased egg quality