3,394 research outputs found
Colonization of the developing rhizosphere of sugar beet seedlings by potential biocontrol agents applied as seed treatments
Aims: Poor colonization of the rhizosphere is a major constraint of seed treatment biological control. The objectives of this study were to; examine the colonization of the rhizosphere of sugar beet seedlings by selected rhizobacteria; determine the influence of the host rhizosphere and percolating water on the distribution of the bacteria; and deliver two biological control agents (BCAs) by co-inoculation. Methods and Results: Rifampicin-resistant bacterial strains (Rif(+)) applied as single treatments to seed sown in columns of field soil produced persistent populations of 5-9 log(10) cfu g(-1) in the infection court of the damping-off pathogen Aphanomyces cochlioides in a controlled environment. However, isolates varied in their ability to colonize the lower rhizosphere. Percolating water significantly increased the colonization of the upper rhizosphere. Bacterial populations in the soil profiles of "non-rhizosphere" controls declined markedly with time. There was no interaction between the two selected BCAs applied as a seed treatment mixture. Conclusions: The distribution of the bacteria resulted primarily from root colonization although percolating water may modify the colonization profiles. Co-inoculation of the sugar-beet rhizosphere is a viable proposition. Significance and Impact of Study: Potential BCAs were successfully delivered to the known infection court of A. cochloides and persisted for the infection period. This bioassay can be used as a tool for the selection of BCAs for field trials
Developing a corpus of strategic conversation in The Settlers of Catan
International audienceWe describe a dialogue model and an implemented annotation scheme for a pilot corpus of annotated online chats concerning bargaining negotiations in the game The Settlers of Catan. We will use this model and data to analyze how conversations proceed in the absence of strong forms of cooperativity, where agents have diverging motives. Here we concentrate on the description of our annotation scheme for negotiation dialogues, illustrated with our pilot data, and some perspectives for future research on the issue
A Wide-Field CCD Survey for Centaurs and Kuiper Belt Objects
A modified Baker-Nunn camera was used to conduct a wide-field survey of 1428
square degrees of sky near the ecliptic in search of bright Kuiper Belt objects
and Centaurs. This area is an order of magnitude larger than any previously
published CCD survey for Centaurs and Kuiper Belt Objects. No new objects
brighter than red magnitude m=18.8 and moving at a rate 1"/hr to 20"/hr were
discovered, although one previously discovered Centaur 1997 CU26 Chariklo was
serendipitously detected. The parameters of the survey were characterized using
both visual and automated techniques. From this survey the empirical projected
surface density of Centaurs was found to be SigmaCentaur(m<18.8)=7.8(+16.0
-6.6)x10^-4 per square degree and we found a projected surface density 3sigma
upper confidence limit for Kuiper Belt objects of SigmaKBO(m< 18.8)<4.1x10^-3
per square degree. We discuss the current state of the cumulative luminosity
functions of both Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects. Through a Monte Carlo
simulation we show that the size distribution of Centaurs is consistent with a
q=4 differential power law, similar to the size distribution of the parent
Kuiper Belt Objects. The Centaur population is of order 10^7 (radius > 1 km)
assuming a geometric albedo of 0.04. About 100 Centaurs are larger than 50 km
in radius, of which only 4 are presently known. The current total mass of the
Centaurs is 10^-4 Earth Masses. No dust clouds were detected resulting from
Kuiper Belt object collisions, placing a 3sigma upper limit <600 collisionally
produced clouds of m<18.8 per year.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for Publication in A
Adolescents care but don't feel responsible for farm animal welfare
Adolescents are the next generation of consumers with the potential to raise standards of farm animal welfareâto theirsatisfactionâif their preferences and concerns are translated into accurate market drivers and signals. There are no published data about adolescent views of farm animal welfare to allow meaningful design, implementation, and evaluation of educational strategies to improve consideration ofâand behavior towardâfarm animals. Knowledge of farm animal welfare, as well as beliefs and attitudes about farm animal welfare and behavioral intention relevant to it were determined in a sample of ukadolescents, using a survey incorporating an extended version of the theory of planned behavior and novel assessment tools. Our results indicate that adolescents have only a limited knowledge of welfare problems for farm animals and welfare-relevant product labels. Intentions to identify welfare standards for the animals from whom their food was derived were weak. Although they cared about farm animal welfare and agreed with fundamental principlesâfor example, the provision of space and the absence of pain and sufferingâlike adults they held limited belief in the power and responsibility that they possess through their choices as consumers; responsibility was often shifted to others, such as the government and farmers
Human capability evaluation approach for cybersecurity in critical industrial infrastructure
Every organization is as frail as its frailest human link in the cyber security of Industry Control System (ICS), which is without predisposition to conceivable technological solutions for enforcing security. Noticeably, human-involved systems are becoming more chaotic, and gravely under attacks due to irregular actions or inactions of human entities in the constituent chain. Many industrial cyber-attacks have successfully defeated technological security solutions through preying on human weaknesses in knowledge and skills, and manipulating insiders within organizations into unsuspectingly delivering entry and access to sensitive industrial assets. In order to help enterprises assess the level of employeesâ cyber security awareness and responsiveness, and enhance ICS Cyber security knowledge and skills for ICS protection, a Workforce Cyber Security Capability evaluation model is presented, and theoretically validated. A capability evaluation will allow industries to have a better understanding of the potential state of consciousness, readiness and diagnostic abilities of the industries; thus improve the prevention, detection, and response to any cyber-specific incidents
The NASA-UC-UH Eta-Earth Program: IV. A Low-mass Planet Orbiting an M Dwarf 3.6 PC from Earth
We report the discovery of a low-mass planet orbiting Gl 15 A based on radial
velocities from the Eta-Earth Survey using HIRES at Keck Observatory. Gl 15 Ab
is a planet with minimum mass Msini = 5.35 0.75 M, orbital
period P = 11.4433 0.0016 days, and an orbit that is consistent with
circular. We characterize the host star using a variety of techniques.
Photometric observations at Fairborn Observatory show no evidence for
rotational modulation of spots at the orbital period to a limit of ~0.1 mmag,
thus supporting the existence of the planet. We detect a second RV signal with
a period of 44 days that we attribute to rotational modulation of stellar
surface features, as confirmed by optical photometry and the Ca II H & K
activity indicator. Using infrared spectroscopy from Palomar-TripleSpec, we
measure an M2 V spectral type and a sub-solar metallicity ([M/H] = -0.22,
[Fe/H] = -0.32). We measure a stellar radius of 0.3863 0.0021 R
based on interferometry from CHARA.Comment: ApJ accepted, 11 pages, 8 figures, 3 table
Generalized "Quasi-classical" Ground State for an Interacting Two Level System
We treat a system (a molecule or a solid) in which electrons are coupled
linearly to any number and type of harmonic oscillators and which is further
subject to external forces of arbitrary symmetry. With the treatment restricted
to the lowest pair of electronic states, approximate "vibronic"
(vibration-electronic) ground state wave functions are constructed having the
form of simple, closed expressions. The basis of the method is to regard
electronic density operators as classical variables. It extends an earlier
"guessed solution", devised for the dynamical Jahn-Teller effect in cubic
symmetry, to situations having lower (e.g., dihedral) symmetry or without any
symmetry at all. While the proposed solution is expected to be quite close to
the exact one, its formal simplicity allows straightforward calculations of
several interesting quantities, like energies and vibronic reduction (or Ham)
factors. We calculate for dihedral symmetry two different -factors (""
and "") and a -factor. In simplified situations we obtain . The formalism enables quantitative estimates to be made for the dynamical
narrowing of hyperfine lines in the observed ESR spectrum of the dihedral
cyclobutane radical cation.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figure
- âŠ