Pendugaan Potensi Kekeringan Meteorologis terhadap Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan dengan Metode Indeks Presipitasi Terstandarisasi di Kabupaten Banjar

The potency of meteorological drought estimated by Standardized Precipitation Index can be used to predict the incidence of forest and land fires in Kabupaten Banjar. The aim of this research was to synthesize the relationship rainfall and level of dryness with the occurrence of hotspots, mapping meteorological drought in monthly periods and level of dryness of the method of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and spreading of hotspots in Kabupaten Banjar. This research was conducted in Kabupaten Banjar by using the method of Standardized Precipitation Index to analyze the dryness level in one area. Data used were the processed monthly rainfalls in the period of 2010 – 2015 and the data of hotspots in Kabupaten Banjar, and then the maps for the hotspots and rainfall were created using mapping software. The results showed meteorological drought periods in Kabupaten Banjar happens nearly every year with the lowest period (very dry) occurred in November 2015 with a value of SPI -3.3. To conclude, first, the less rainfall and the low value of SPI will be followed by the increasing incidence of forest and land fires on the marks with the high number of hotspots, the second level of meteorological dryness occurs in January, July and up to November, and the last occurrence of high hotspots occurs in July up to November

Asphalt Mix Design and performance

Premature flexible pavement distress became a major concern in Indiana. As a result, a study was conducted investigating the major underlying factors. Pavement sections were investigated based on a factorial study with four factors comprised of climate, truck traffic, pavement base type, and wheel path. The distresses evaluated were rutting, thermal cracking and stripping. All were evaluated against control sections with zero distress. The pavement condition of each section was determined. Laboratory tests of field sample included physical properties, dynamic creep and recompaction. Results of the study indicate that the Asphalt Institute mix design criteria identify an asphalt content that is too high. In place densities were found to be inadequate and a recommendation was made to use higher field compactive effort. The USAE Gyratory Testing Machine (GTM) was used in laboratory studies to recompact density and air voids. Testing confirm that the in situ asphalt content was too high. Gap graded gradations were found to be prone to rutting. Benefit is shown in using dynamic modulus to evaluate mixtures. A statistical analysis method, discriminate analysis, was used to accurately predict mixture field performance using laboratory data

Neuroimaging Evidence of Major Morpho-Anatomical and Functional Abnormalities in the BTBR T+TF/J Mouse Model of Autism

BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) mice display prominent behavioural deficits analogous to the defining symptoms of autism, a feature that has prompted a widespread use of the model in preclinical autism research. Because neuro-behavioural traits are described with respect to reference populations, multiple investigators have examined and described the behaviour of BTBR mice against that exhibited by C57BL/6J (B6), a mouse line characterised by high sociability and low self-grooming. In an attempt to probe the translational relevance of this comparison for autism research, we used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to map in both strain multiple morpho-anatomical and functional neuroimaging readouts that have been extensively used in patient populations. Diffusion tensor tractography confirmed previous reports of callosal agenesis and lack of hippocampal commissure in BTBR mice, and revealed a concomitant rostro-caudal reorganisation of major cortical white matter bundles. Intact inter-hemispheric tracts were found in the anterior commissure, ventro-medial thalamus, and in a strain-specific white matter formation located above the third ventricle. BTBR also exhibited decreased fronto-cortical, occipital and thalamic gray matter volume and widespread reductions in cortical thickness with respect to control B6 mice. Foci of increased gray matter volume and thickness were observed in the medial prefrontal and insular cortex. Mapping of resting-state brain activity using cerebral blood volume weighted fMRI revealed reduced cortico-thalamic function together with foci of increased activity in the hypothalamus and dorsal hippocampus of BTBR mice. Collectively, our results show pronounced functional and structural abnormalities in the brain of BTBR mice with respect to control B6 mice. The large and widespread white and gray matter abnormalities observed do not appear to be representative of the neuroanatomical alterations typically observed in autistic patients. The presence of reduced fronto-cortical metabolism is of potential translational relevance, as this feature recapitulates previously-reported clinical observations

Nitrogen and sulphur management: challenges for organic sources in temperate agricultural systems

A current global trend towards intensification or specialization of agricultural enterprises has been accompanied by increasing public awareness of associated environmental consequences. Air and water pollution from losses of nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S), are a major concern. Governments have initiated extensive regulatory frameworks, including various land use policies, in an attempt to control or reduce the losses. This paper presents an overview of critical input and loss processes affecting N and S for temperate climates, and provides some background to the discussion in subsequent papers evaluating specific farming systems. Management effects on potential gaseous and leaching losses, the lack of synchrony between supply of nutrients and plant demand, and options for optimizing the efficiency of N and S use are reviewed. Integration of inorganic and organic fertilizer inputs and the equitable re-distribution of nutrients from manure are discussed. The paper concludes by highlighting a need for innovative research that is also targeted to practical approaches for reducing N and S losses, and improving the overall synchrony between supply and demand

Glycogen metabolic genes are involved in trehalose-6-phosphate synthase-mediated regulation of pathogenicity by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

© 2013 Badaruddin et al.Editor - Peter N. Dodds, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), AustraliaThis work was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and a European Research Council Advanced Investigator Award to NJT. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.The filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is the causal agent of rice blast disease. Here we show that glycogen metabolic genes play an important role in plant infection by M. oryzae. Targeted deletion of AGL1 and GPH1, which encode amyloglucosidase and glycogen phosphorylase, respectively, prevented mobilisation of glycogen stores during appressorium development and caused a significant reduction in the ability of M. oryzae to cause rice blast disease. By contrast, targeted mutation of GSN1, which encodes glycogen synthase, significantly reduced the synthesis of intracellular glycogen, but had no effect on fungal pathogenicity. We found that loss of AGL1 and GPH1 led to a reduction in expression of TPS1 and TPS3, which encode components of the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase complex, that acts as a genetic switch in M. oryzae. Tps1 responds to glucose-6-phosphate levels and the balance of NADP/NADPH to regulate virulence-associated gene expression, in association with Nmr transcriptional inhibitors. We show that deletion of the NMR3 transcriptional inhibitor gene partially restores virulence to a Δagl1Δgph1 mutant, suggesting that glycogen metabolic genes are necessary for operation of the NADPH-dependent genetic switch in M. oryzae.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)European Research Council (ERC

Pendampingan Belajar Peserta Didik dalam Menyelesaikan Soal Tipe HOTS pada Materi Matriks

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) are high-level thinking skills that involve analysis, evaluation and creation. In line with the implementation of a curriculum that emphasizes HOTS development, there are still obstacles in students' ability to face HOTS questions, especially in matrix material. Some students experience difficulty in applying matrix concepts analytically and critically in solving problems that require high-level thinking. This service is assisting class XI students in Package 9 MAN 2 Makassar City, which aims to improve students' abilities in solving HOTS questions on matrix material. The service is carried out with an interactive approach and is based on practical exercises related to HOTS questions. Evaluation of the level of success of service is carried out through learning outcomes tests which include HOTS questions and student response questionnaires. Based on the analysis of learning outcomes tests, the average student score was 58.68 in the medium category. Meanwhile, the results of the analysis of student responses obtained a response percentage of 91,11 in the very positive category. The results of this evaluation show that learning assistance in solving HOTS questions is really needed by students. Thus, service activities are recommended to be carried out on an ongoing basis in an effort to improve students' HOTS abilities.Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) merupakan kemampuan berpikir tingkat tinggi yang melibatkan analisis, evaluasi, dan mencipta. Sejalan dengan penerapan kurikulum yang menekankan pada pengembangan HOTS, masih terdapat kendala dalam kemampuan peserta didik menghadapi soal HOTS, khususnya pada materi matriks. Beberapa peserta didik mengalami kesulitan dalam menerapkan konsep matriks secara analitis dan kritis dalam menyelesaikan soal-soal yang memerlukan pemikiran tingkat tinggi. Pengabdian ini adalah pendampingan peserta didik kelas XI Paket 9 MAN 2 Kota Makassar, yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan peserta didik dalam menyelesaikan soal HOTS pada materi matriks. Pengabdian dilakukan dengan pendekatan interaktif dan berbasis latihan praktis terkait soal HOTS. Evaluasi tingkat keberhasilan pengabdian dilakukan melalui tes hasil belajar yang mencakup soal HOTS dan angket respons peserta didik. Berdasarkan analisis tes hasil belajar diperoleh nilai rata-rata peserta didik sebesar 58,68 dengan kategori sedang. Adapun hasil analisis respons peserta didik diperoleh persentase respons sebesar 91,11 dengan kategori sangat positif. Hasil evaluasi ini mengindikasikan bahwa pendampingan belajar dalam menyelesaikan soal HOTS sangat dibutuhkan oleh peserta didik. Dengan demikian, kegiatan pengabdian direkomendasikan untuk dilaksanakan secara berkelanjutan dalam upaya meningkatkan kemampuan HOTS peserta didik

Quantitative proteomics analysis reveals important roles of N-glycosylation on ER quality control system for development and pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae

The fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae can cause rice blast and wheat blast diseases, which threatens worldwide food production. During infection, M. oryzae follows a sequence of distinct developmental stages adapted to survival and invasion of the host environment. M. oryzae attaches onto the host by the conidium, and then develops an appressorium to breach the host cuticle. After penetrating, it forms invasive hyphae to quickly spread in the host cells. Numerous genetic studies have focused on the mechanisms underlying each step in the infection process, but systemic approaches are needed for a broader, integrated understanding of regulatory events during M. oryzae pathogenesis. Many infection-related signaling events are regulated through post-translational protein modifications within the pathogen. N-linked glycosylation, in which a glycan moiety is added to the amide group of an asparagine residue, is an abundant modification known to be essential for M. oryzae infection. In this study, we employed a quantitative proteomics analysis to unravel the overall regulatory mechanisms of N-glycosylation at different developmental stages of M. oryzae. We detected changes in N-glycosylation levels at 559 glycosylated residues (N-glycosites) in 355 proteins during different stages, and determined that the ER quality control system is elaborately regulated by N-glycosylation. The insights gained will help us to better understand the regulatory mechanisms of infection in pathogenic fungi. These findings may be also important for developing novel strategies for fungal disease control. Genetic studies have shown essential functions of N-glycosylation during infection of the plant pathogenic fungi, however, systematic roles of N-glycosylation in fungi is still largely unknown. Biological analysis demonstrated N-glycosylated proteins were widely present at different development stages of Magnaporthe oryzae and especially increased in the appressorium and invasive hyphae. A large-scale quantitative proteomics analysis was then performed to explore the roles of N-glycosylation in M. oryzae. A total of 559 N-glycosites from 355 proteins were identified and quantified at different developmental stages. Functional classification to the N-glycosylated proteins revealed N-glycosylation can coordinate different cellular processes for mycelial growth, conidium formation, and appressorium formation. N-glycosylation can also modify key components in N-glycosylation, O-glycosylation and GPI anchor pathways, indicating intimate crosstalk between these pathways. Interestingly, we found nearly all key components of the endoplasmic reticulum quality control (ERQC) system were highly N-glycosylated in conidium and appressorium. Phenotypic analyses to the gene deletion mutants revealed four ERQC components, Gls1, Gls2, GTB1 and Cnx1, are important for mycelial growth, conidiation, and invasive hyphal growth in host cells. Subsequently, we identified the Gls1 N-glycosite N497 was important for invasive hyphal growth and partially required for conidiation, but didn't affect colony growth. Mutation of N497 resulted in reduction of Gls1 in protein level, and localization from ER into the vacuole, suggesting N497 is important for protein stability of Gls1. Our study showed a snapshot of the N-glycosylation landscape in plant pathogenic fungi, indicating functions of this modification in cellular processes, developments and pathogenesis

Developmental malformation of the corpus callosum: a review of typical callosal development and examples of developmental disorders with callosal involvement

This review provides an overview of the involvement of the corpus callosum (CC) in a variety of developmental disorders that are currently defined exclusively by genetics, developmental insult, and/or behavior. I begin with a general review of CC development, connectivity, and function, followed by discussion of the research methods typically utilized to study the callosum. The bulk of the review concentrates on specific developmental disorders, beginning with agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC)—the only condition diagnosed exclusively by callosal anatomy. This is followed by a review of several genetic disorders that commonly result in social impairments and/or psychopathology similar to AgCC (neurofibromatosis-1, Turner syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Williams yndrome, and fragile X) and two forms of prenatal injury (premature birth, fetal alcohol syndrome) known to impact callosal development. Finally, I examine callosal involvement in several common developmental disorders defined exclusively by behavioral patterns (developmental language delay, dyslexia, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and Tourette syndrome)

Resposta da produtividade de grãos e outras características agronômicas do trigo EMBRAPA-22 irrigado ao nitrogênio em cobertura

As doses e a época de aplicação do nitrogênio (N) podem influenciar as características agronômicas do trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) irrigado e, conseqüentemente, a produtividade de grãos. Neste sentido, foram instalados dois experimentos na Estação Experimental da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, localizada em Coimbra (MG), em 1995 e 1996. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela combinação de quatro doses de N (30, 60, 90 e 120 kg ha-1), quatro formas de parcelamento (dose total aos 20 dias da emergência (DAE); ½ aos 20 + ½ aos 40 DAE; 1/3 aos 20 + 2/3 aos 40 DAE e 2/3 aos 20 + 1/3 aos 40 DAE) e uma testemunha (sem N em cobertura), dispostos em esquema fatorial 4 x 4 + 1, no delineamento em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. A altura e o acamamento das plantas, a biomassa seca, o índice de colheita, a massa de mil grãos, o peso hectolítrico e a produtividade de grãos foram influenciados pelas doses de N. Em 1996, o número de espigas por metro quadrado e o número de perfilhos férteis por planta diminuíram, em conseqüência do acamamento precoce das plantas, enquanto o número de grãos por espiga e o número de grãos por metro quadrado aumentaram com o incremento nas doses de N. As formas de parcelamento influenciaram somente o acamamento das plantas

Characteristics of active seawater intrusion

© 2017 Elsevier. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This author accepted manuscript is made available following 24 month embargo from date of publication (Aug 2017) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyThe inland migration of seawater in coastal aquifers, known as seawater intrusion (SWI), can be categorised as passive or active, depending on whether the hydraulic gradient slopes downwards towards the sea or the land, respectively. Despite active SWI occurring in many locations, it has received considerably less attention than passive SWI. In this study, active SWI caused by an inland freshwater head decline (FHD) is characterised using numerical modelling of various idealised unconfined coastal aquifer settings. Relationships between key features of active SWI (e.g., interface characteristics and SWI response time-scales) and the parameters of the problem (e.g., inland FHD, freshwater-seawater density contrast, dispersivity, hydraulic conductivity, porosity and aquifer thickness) are explored for the first time. Sensitivity analyses show that the SWI response time-scales under active SWI situations are influenced by both the initial and final boundary head differences. The interface is found to be steeper under stronger advection (i.e., caused by the inland FHD), higher dispersivity and hydraulic conductivity, and lower aquifer thickness, seawater density and porosity. The interface movement is faster and the mixing zone is wider with larger hydraulic conductivity, seawater-freshwater density difference, and aquifer thickness, and with lower porosity. Dimensionless parameters (Peclet number and mixed convection ratio) from previous steady-state analyses offer only limited application to the controlling factors of passive SWI, and are not applicable to active SWI. The current study of active SWI highlights important functional relationships that improve the general understanding of SWI, which has otherwise been founded primarily on steady-state and passive SWI