High-throughput phenotyping for the genetic dissection of drought tolerance related traits in Zea mays and Triticum durum Desf.

In this dissertation we expose the results of two research conducted using high-throughput phenotyping techniques with the aim of discovery the genetic bases underling drought adaptive traits in maize and durum wheat. In the first study, we used a maize Introgression Library (IL) derived from the cross between Gaspé Flint (an early flowering Canadian landrace) and B73 (an elite genetics reference line) which was previously shown to segregate for phenology and seminal root architecture (SRA). The IL was phenotypically evaluated in the high-throughput platform PhenoArch (INRA, Montpellier), for large-scale automated imagery and evapotranspiration measurements of potted plants in controlled environment, under well-watered and water-deficit conditions. Biomass accumulation for each plant was estimated by software and model-assisted imaging analysis. Several QTLs were detected (Dunnet test p-value < 0.05) for biomass accumulation and water-use efficiency (WUE) on chr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9). In the second study we report the characterization of 183 elite durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum Desf.) for root system architecture (RSA) and shoot developmental traits. Plants were grown in the high-throughput phenotyping platform GROWSCREEN-Rhizo, a rhizo-box-based system. Seminal, nodal and lateral root length was measured twice per week. Measurements of leaf area, leaf number and tiller number were performed twice per week and SPAD measurements were collected twice during the experiment. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified many QTLs for RSA and/or shoot growth traits (P < 0.0001). GWAS confirmed a highly significant effect on adult plant root system width due to two major QTLs on chromosomes 6AL and 7AC. Notably, shoot/root ratio revealed a strong, contrasting selection pattern between the cultivars released by the rainfed and irrigated breeding programs conducted at ICARDA and CIMMYT, respectively, suggesting an indirect but major role of RSA features in durum wheat breeding and environmental adaptation

Emotional Expression of #body on Instagram

Our aim was to explore emotions in Instagram images marked with hashtags referring to body image–related components using an artificial intelligence–based discrete emotional analysis. A total of 500 Instagram photos marked by specific hashtags related to body image components were analyzed and specific discrete emotions expressed in each picture were detected using the Emotion application program interface API from Microsoft Azure Cognitive Service. Results showed that happiness and neutrality were the most intense and recognizable emotions expressed in all images. Happiness intensity was significantly higher in images with #bodyimage and #bodyconfidence and higher levels of neutral emotion were found in images tagged with #body, #bodyfitness, and #thininspirational. This study integrated a discrete emotional model with the conventional dimensional one, and offered a higher degree of granularity in the analysis of emotions–body link on Instagram through an artificial intelligence technology. Future research should deepen the use of discrete emotions on Instagram and the role of neutrality in body image representation

Neuobičajeno opažanje prugastog dupina (Stenella coeruleoalba) u Kvarneriću, Sjeverni Jadran

An adult striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, was encountered east of the island of Lošinj on 6 May 1996, and observed from a small inflatable boat for 5 hours. The only cetacean species that has been consistently observed in the Northern Adriatic Sea in the last decades is the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. Occasional reports of striped dolphins in the Central and Northern Adriatic Sea may simply reflect the occurrence of stray individuals, but the fact that such observations have only occurred recently might be indicative of a progressive extension of the striped dolphin\u27s range, as has been reported for other Mediterranean areas.Odrasli prugasti dupin, Stenella coeruleoalba, opažen je istočno od otoka Lošinja 6. svibnja 1996. godine i promatran tijekom pet sati iz malog gumenog čamca. Jedina vrsta reda Cetacea (kitovi) koja je redovito viđana u Sjevernom Jadranu posljednjih desetljeća, bio je dobri dupin, Tursiops truncatus. Povremena opažanja prugastog dupina u Srednjem i Sjevernom Jadranu možda su samo pojave zalutalih jedinki, ali činjenica da su se ta opažanja zbila nedavno možda su indikacija progresivnog širenja areala prugastog dupina, a zabilježena su i u drugim dijelovima Sredozemlja

Observations and radio tagging of Balaenoptera edeni near Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela

The 23 October to 13 November 1979 Venezuelan radio tagging and tracking experiments on whales (Balaenoptera edeni, Fig. 1) provided essential field tests of the new modifications to the WHOI radio whale tag (see list of tag reports), and the chance to try it on a new species. We found that we could approach and tag these whales from a slow (4 to 6 kt) vessel. Good radio tracking with automatic direction finding equipment was possible within 12 to 20 km, with longer ranges probable. In addition, the radio tags provided new information about the behavior of these whales.Prepared for the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-79-C-OO71; NR 083-004

Kitovi i dupini u Jadranskom moru: sadašnje spoznaje, prijetnje i očuvanje

The Adriatic Sea is one of the Mediterranean areas most exposed to cumulative human stressors. This semienclosed and largely shallow basin has been subjected to intensive exploitation and destructive fishing practices for decades, resulting in biodiversity decline and poor ecosystem health. Diversity of cetaceans is lower than in other parts of the Mediterranean, and the extant dolphins and whales have been facing threats that include the combined effects of habitat loss and degradation, prey depletion, incidental mortality and injury caused by fisheries, anthropogenic noise, chemical contamination and climate change. Here, we report information for the nine cetacean species known to occur in the basin (classified as either regular, visitor or vagrant), plus three species characterized by a single record. For these species, we review evidence from field research and other studies – with a bias towards the common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus (by far the most intensively-studied cetacean in this area). We also describe and characterize the main threats to cetaceans in the Adriatic, relying on recent literature as well as historical information that helps frame the present status of cetaceans in the context of past human impacts (particularly the extensive killing campaigns conducted until the 1960s). Finally, we provide management recommendations to inform and guide the action that must be taken in compliance with extant legislation, marine conservation directives and international commitments to protect marine biodiversity.Jadransko more je jedno od područja Sredozemnog mora koja su najizloženija kumulativnim ljudskim utjecajima. Ovaj poluzatvoreni i uglavnom plitki bazen je proteklih desetljeća bio izložen intenzivnom iskorištavanju i štetnim ribolovnim praksama, što je dovelo do smanjenja biološke raznolikosti i lošeg stanja ekosustava. Raznolikost kitova i dupina (Cetacea) ovdje je manja nego u drugim područjima Sredozemnog mora i postojeće vrste koje nastanjuju Jadransko more suočavaju se s prijetnjama koje uključuju kombinirane učinke gubitka i degradacije staništa, nedostatka plijena, slučajne smrtnosti i ozljeda uzrokovanih ribolovom, buke izazvane ljudskim aktivnostima, kemijskog zagađenja i klimatskih promjena. U ovom radu navodimo podatke o devet vrsta kitova i dupina za koje je poznato da se pojavljuju u Jadranu (klasificirani su kao redoviti, posjetioci ili skitnice) te tri vrste koje su zabilježene na ovom području samo jednom. Za ove vrste pregledali smo podatke iz terenskih istraživanja i drugih studija, među kojima ih je najviše za dobrog dupina Tursiops truncatus (koji je najintenzivnije proučavana vrsta u ovom području). U radu također opisujemo i navodimo značajke glavnih prijetnji kitovima i dupinima u Jadranskom moru, temeljem recentne literature kao i povijesnih podataka koji pomažu prikazu sadašnjeg stanja tih životinja u kontekstu prošlih ljudskih utjecaja (posebice opsežnih kampanja ubijanja provedenih do 1960-ih). Konačno, donosimo preporuke za upravljanje kako bi omogućili prijenos informacija i usmjeravanje aktivnosti koje se moraju poduzeti u skladu s postojećim zakonodavstvom, direktivama o očuvanju mora i međunarodnim obvezama u pogledu zaštite morske biološke raznolikosti

J'accuse ... donc j'écris!

Strumento d’opposizione, metodo di resistenza, forma di critica al potere, arma contundente (o di difesa) se utilizzata contro (o in favore di) qualcuno o qualcosa: la scrittura, la presa di parola per iscritto è stata anche questo nel corso della storia, soprattutto a partire dall’invenzione della stampa a caratteri mobili. Il quinto numero di «Suite française» – dal titolo J’accuse … donc j’écris! – indaga questa particolare modalità di presa di parola, strettamente connessa tanto a precise forme espressive e generi letterari quanto alle peculiari circostanze storico-politiche in cui di volta in volta trova realizzazione

Genome-wide association mapping for grain shape and color traits in Ethiopian durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum)

Abstract Grain shape and color strongly influence yield and quality of durum wheat. Identifying QTL for these traits is essential for transferring favorable alleles based on selection strategies and breeding objectives. In the present study, 192 Ethiopian durum wheat accessions comprising 167 landraces and 25 cultivars were genotyped with a high-density Illumina iSelect 90 K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat array to conduct a genome-wide association analysis for grain width (GW), grain length (GL), CIE (Commission Internationale l'Eclairage) L* (brightness), CIE a* (redness), and CIE b* (yellowness) traits. The accessions were planted at Sinana Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia in the 2015/2016 cropping season in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Twenty homogeneous and healthy seeds per replicate were used for trait measurement. Digital image analysis of seeds with GrainScan software package was used to generate the phenotypic data. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences between accessions for all traits. A total of 46 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified for all traits across all chromosomes. One novel major candidate QTL (−lg P ≥ 4) with pleiotropic effects for grain CIE L* (brightness) and CIE a* (redness) was identified on the long arm of chromosome 2A. Eighteen nominal QTL (−lg P ≥ 3) and 26 suggestive QTL (−lg P ≥ 2.5) were identified. Pleiotropic QTL influencing both grain shape and color were identified

Description of the vessel traffic within the north Pelagos Sanctuary: Inputs for Marine Spatial Planning and management implications within an existing international Marine Protected Area

International shipping, although considered a safe and environment-friendly form of transportation, has many direct and indirect impacts on cetaceans in many ways, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the world's busiest waterways. An AIS receiver located at 44.30 °N and 8.45 °E, operating between 3 May 2013 and 31 October 2014, provided a detailed description of the distribution, number, type and operation of vessels within the Pelagos Sanctuary, an international protected area dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals. A total of 3,757,587 km of vessel traffic was recorded from 82,831 transits by 4205 distinct vessels. The spatial and temporal distribution of traffic was not uniform and dependent on vessel type (0.0

Root system architecture phenotyping of durum wheat reveals differential selection for a major QTL in contrasting environments

This study reports the characterization of 183 elite durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum Desf.) for RSA and shoot developmental traits. Plants were grown in controlled conditions up to the 7th leaf appearance (late tillering) using the phenotyping platform GROWSCREEN-Rhizo at the Institut f\ufcr Bio und Geowissenschaften Pflanzenwissenschaften

Developing Important Marine Mammal Area Criteria: Learning From Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas

1. This paper explores how criteria to identify important marine mammal areas (IMMAs) could be developed, and nested in existing global criteria. This process would consider 134 species of marine mammals. 2. Particular attention is given to two suites of global criteria to identify areas important for the persistence of marine biodiversity: Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) developed through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in revision through the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are seen as mutually complementary in the development of IMMAs. 3. The specificities necessary for identifying important areas at scales below the global level may vary according to the region, the biophysical requirements of distinct populations, and available data. Refining and testing the applicability of these global criteria on marine mammals at both regional and national scales will be necessary. 4. Combining area-based measures with non-spatial management actions will likely be the optimal approach for ensuring marine mammal persistence given their highly migratory nature and widespread life-history stages. 5. Capacity to enact IMMAs is strengthened by the existence of professional marine mammal associations and networks, and the recently formed IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force (MMPATF). The MMPATF is planning further development of IMMA criteria through joint work with the International Committee on Marine Mammal Protected Areas (ICMMPA)