Technical Note: A rotary seed processor for removing pubescence from seed of prairie grasses

Many of the perennial prairie grasses that are used in restoration plantings in the central Great Plains have seed appendages such as awns and pubescence that make seed flow through planters difficult. We have developed a rotary seed processor that efficiently processes small breeder or experimental lots of seed that can then be easily planted with small plot cone planters or conventional planters. The processor consists of a metal cylinder that is lined with corrugated rubber and a rotating center shaft with rubber paddles. Processing can be controlled by varying shaft rotation speed and processing time. A top-opening, full length trap door allows for easy loading and the cylinder can be inverted to dump out processed seed. The processor has been used successfully for several years on big bluestem [Andropogon gerardii Vitman], indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michaux) Nash], prairie sandreed [Calamovilfa longifolia (Book.) Scribner], and blue grama [Boureloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lagascaex Griffiths] seed. By removing seed appendages and pubescence, seed bulk is reduced and seed density and flow ability are improved. The processing operation is relatively gentle and seed germination per unit weight of seed is improved. Semillas de muchos pastos perennes que son usados en la restauracion de praderas en las Grandes Planicies centrales, poseen accesorios coma aristas y/o pubescencias que difcultan el paso de las semillas a traves de sembradoras convencionales. Para efectuar siembras con btas semillas, las semhradoras tendrian que estar especificamente diieiiadas para plantar material relativamente voluminoso y sin peso, al menos que las semillas scan procesadas para remover tales cuerpos accesorios. Nosotros hemos desarrollado un procesador de semilla que process eticientemente pequeiios lotes de semillas con fries de reproduction de germoplasma o experimentales. De &a manera, las semillas podran ser facilmente sembrados con un sembrador de cone para pequefias parcelas, o con sembradoras convencionales. El procesador consiste de un cilindro o tambor de metal forrado en su interior con hule corrugado. Paletas de hule adjuntas a un eje que atraviesa el cilindro y que son rotadas por polea, golpean las semillas. El proceso puede ser controlado variando el tamaiio de polea y la velocidad de rotacibn, y por el tiempo que la semilla permanece rotando dentro de la unidad. El cilindro cuenta con una puerta en la parte superior que permite el facil acceso de la semilla dentro de la unidad. Cuando la semilla ha sido procesada, el cilindro puede ser invertido para retirar la semilla de la unidad. El procesador ha sido exitosamente usado por varios aiios en big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash], little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash], prairie sandreed [Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn.], and blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (Wiid. ex Kunth) Lagasca ex Griffiths] seed. La remocion de las aristas y pubescencias disminuyen el volumen de la semi&, y la densidad y flujo dentro de la sembradora son entonces mejorados. El proceso de operation es relativamente suave para las semillas y la genninacion por unidad de peso es mejorada

On-Line Diffusion Profile of a Lipophilic Model Dye in Different Depths of a Hair Follicle in Human Scalp Skin

In skin and hair research, drug targeting to the hair follicle is of great interest in the treatment of skin diseases. The aim of this study is to visualize on-line the diffusion processes of a model fluorophore into the hair follicle at different depths using fresh human scalp skin and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Up to a depth of 500 μm in the skin, a fast increase of fluorescence is observed in the gap followed by accumulation of the dye in the hair cuticle. Penetration was also observed via the stratum corneum and the epidermis. Little label reached depths greater than 2000 μm. Fat cells accumulated the label fastest, followed by the cuticular area and the outer root sheath of the hair follicle. Sweat glands revealed very low staining, whereas the bulb at a depth of 4000 μm was visualized only by autofluorescence. From this study, we conclude that on-line visualization is a promising technique to access diffusion processes in deep skin layers even on a cellular level. Furthermore, we conclude that the gap and the cuticle play an important role in the initial diffusion period with the label in the cuticle originating from the gap

Segregation of glutenins in wheat × maize-derived doubled haploid wheat populations

The segregation of both high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits across 7 F1 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) × maize (Zea mays L.) derived doubled haploid populations was examined. The F1 wheats used in each population were produced from parents of interest to Australian wheat breeding programs. The parents varied by up to 5 glutenin subunit loci. Examination of subunits individually within each population using a chi-square analysis revealed that all but 2 of the 26 pairs of alleles analysed fitted the expected 1 : 1 segregation ratio. Glutenin profiles were examined for each cross individually and all but one (Sonalika/Hartog) fitted the expected Mendelian segregation pattern. The analysis of allele distribution of the 6 glutenin loci across all 7 crosses showed all falling well within expected segregation ratios. Closer examination of parental lines and populations revealed irregularities which conflict with original assumptions and provide a valid explanation for the few segregation distortions observed. It is concluded that wheat × maize-derived doubled haploid populations represent a unbiased assortment of parental gametes on both arms of Group 1 chromosomes

The conundrum of using hyperoxia in COVID-19 treatment strategies: may intermittent therapeutic hyperoxia play a helpful role in the expression of the surface receptors ACE2 and Furin in lung tissue via triggering of HIF-1α?

In the current pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the therapeutic administration of oxygen is a common procedure in order to mitigate patient’s hypoxia in the course of severe corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. However, additional oxygen causes a variety of well-known side-effects, impacting a number of systems regulating cardiovascular and respiratory homeostasis as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS)-production via oxidative stress. In this article, we want to focus on intermittent changes in lung and tissue oxygenation, as changes in local pO2 may be able to trigger one of the key effectors of cellular oxygen-sensing, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and, in downstream, the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and Furin

The genetics of reproductive isolation and the potential for gene exchange between Drosophila Pseudoobscura and D. Persimilis via backcross hybrid males

Hybrid male sterility, hybrid inviability, sexual isolation, and a hybrid male courtship dysfunction reproductively isolate Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis. Previous studies of the genetic bases of these isolating mechanisms have yielded only limited information about how much and what areas of the genome are susceptible to interspecies introgression. We have examined the genetic basis of these barriers to gene exchange in several thousand backcross hybrid male progeny of these species using 14 codominant molecular genetic markers spanning the five chromosomes of these species, focusing particularly on the autosomes. Hybrid male sterility, hybrid inviability, and the hybrid male courtship dysfunction were all associated with X-autosome interactions involving primarily the inverted regions on the left arm of the X-chromosome and the center of the second chromosome. Sexual isolation from D. pseudoobscura females was primarily associated with the left arm of the X-chromosome, although both the right arm and the center of the second chromosome also contributed to it. Sexual isolation from D. persimilis females was primarily associated with the second chromosome. The absence of isolating mechanisms being associated with many autosomal regions, including some large inverted regions that separate the strains, suggests that these phenotypes may not be caused by genes spread throughout the genome. We suggest that gene flow between these species via hybrid males may be possible at loci spread across much of the autosomes

Observations of mesoscale and boundary-layer scale circulations affecting dust transport and uplift over the Sahara

Observations of the Saharan boundary layer, made during the GERBILS field campaign, show that mesoscale land surface temperature variations (which were related to albedo variations) induced mesoscale circulations. With weak winds along the aircraft track, land surface temperature anomalies with scales of greater than 10 km are shown to significantly affect boundary-layer temperatures and winds. Such anomalies are expected to affect the vertical mixing of the dusty and weakly stratified Saharan Residual Layer (SRL). Mesoscale variations in winds are also shown to affect dust loadings in the boundary layer. <br><br> Using the aircraft observations and data from the COSMO model, a region of local dust uplift, with strong along-track winds, was identified in one low-level flight. Large eddy model (LEM) simulations based on this location showed linearly organised boundary-layer convection. Calculating dust uplift rates from the LEM wind field showed that the boundary-layer convection increased uplift by approximately 30%, compared with the uplift rate calculated neglecting the convection. The modelled effects of boundary-layer convection on uplift are shown to be larger when the boundary-layer wind is decreased, and most significant when the mean wind is below the threshold for dust uplift and the boundary-layer convection leads to uplift which would not otherwise occur. <br><br> Both the coupling of albedo features to the atmosphere on the mesoscale, and the enhancement of dust uplift by boundary-layer convection are unrepresented in many climate models, but may have significant impacts on the vertical transport and uplift of desert dust. Mesoscale effects in particular tend to be difficult to parametrise

Everything Hits at Once: How Remote Rainfall Matters for the Prediction of the 2021 North American Heat Wave

In June 2021, Western North America experienced an intense heat wave with unprecedented temperatures and far-reaching socio-economic consequences. Anomalous rainfall in the West Pacific triggers a cascade of weather events across the Pacific, which build up a high-amplitude ridge over Canada and ultimately lead to the heat wave. We show that the response of the jet stream to diabatically enhanced ascending motion in extratropical cyclones represents a predictability barrier with regard to the heat wave magnitude. Therefore, probabilistic weather forecasts are only able to predict the extremity of the heat wave once the complex cascade of weather events is captured. Our results highlight the key role of the sequence of individual weather events in limiting the predictability of this extreme event. We therefore conclude that it is not sufficient to consider such rare events in isolation but it is essential to account for the whole cascade over different spatiotemporal scales