RotAB Weed toolbox

The toolbox is a handbook of methods for weed monitoring in organic long-term arable experiments. It has been developed based on the expertise of French agronomists in charge of such experiments. The toolbox is composed of an excel file (can be found on Organic Eprints orgprints.org/31937) that provides an overview of the methods and indicators to be calculated and 7 fact sheets detailing different weed monitoring methods. The tool has been developed for organic agriculture but could be used in conventional agriculture. The fact sheets are applicable in all European pedo-climatic conditions

Separation of the optical and mass features of particle components in different aerosol mixtures by using POLIPHON retrievals in synergy with continuous polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar (P-MPL) measurements

The application of the POLIPHON (POlarization-LIdar PHOtometer Networking) method is presented for the first time in synergy with continuous 24/7 polarized Micro-Pulse Lidar (P-MPL) measurements to derive the vertical separation of two or three particle components in different aerosol mixtures, and the retrieval of their particular optical properties. The procedure of extinction-to-mass conversion, together with an analysis of the mass extinction efficiency (MEE) parameter, is described, and the relative mass contribution of each aerosol component is also derived in a further step. The general POLIPHON algorithm is based on the specific particle linear depolarization ratio given for different types of aerosols and can be run in either 1-step (POL-1) or 2 steps (POL-2) versions with dependence on either the 2- or 3-component separation. In order to illustrate this procedure, aerosol mixing cases observed over Barcelona (NE Spain) are selected: a dust event on 5 July 2016, smoke plumes detected on 23 May 2016 and a pollination episode observed on 23 March 2016. In particular, the 3-component separation is just applied for the dust case: a combined POL-1 with POL-2 procedure (POL-1/2) is used, and additionally the fine-dust contribution to the total fine mode (fine dust plus non-dust aerosols) is estimated. The high dust impact before 12:00UTC yields a mean mass loading of 0.6±0.1gm-2 due to the prevalence of Saharan coarse-dust particles. After that time, the mean mass loading is reduced by two-thirds, showing a rather weak dust incidence. In the smoke case, the arrival of fine biomass-burning particles is detected at altitudes as high as 7km. The smoke particles, probably mixed with less depolarizing non-smoke aerosols, are observed in air masses, having their origin from either North American fires or the Arctic area, as reported by HYSPLIT back-trajectory analysis. The particle linear depolarization ratio for smoke shows values in the 0.10–0.15 range and even higher at given times, and the daily mean smoke mass loading is 0.017±0.008gm-2, around 3% of that found for the dust event. Pollen particles are detected up to 1.5km in height from 10:00UTC during an intense pollination event with a particle linear depolarization ratio ranging between 0.10 and 0.15. The maximal mass loading of Platanus pollen particles is 0.011±0.003gm-2, representing around 2% of the dust loading during the higher dust incidence. Regarding the MEE derived for each aerosol component, their values are in agreement with others referenced in the literature for the specific aerosol types examined in this work: 0.5±0.1 and 1.7±0.2m2g-1 are found for coarse and fine dust particles, 4.5±1.4m2g-1 is derived for smoke and 2.4±0.5m2g-1 for non-smoke aerosols with Arctic origin, and a MEE of 2.4±0.8m2g-1 is obtained for pollen particles, though it can reach higher or lower values depending on predominantly smaller or larger pollen grain sizes. Results reveal the high potential of the P-MPL system, a simple polarization-sensitive elastic backscatter lidar working in a 24/7 operation mode, to retrieve the relative optical and mass contributions of each aerosol component throughout the day, reflecting the daily variability of their properties. In fact, this procedure can be simply implemented in other P-MPLs that also operate within the worldwide Micro-Pulse Lidar Network (MPLNET), thus extending the aerosol discrimination at a global scale. Moreover, the method has the advantage of also being relatively easily applicable to space-borne lidars with an equivalent configuration such as the ongoing Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) on board NASA CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) and the forthcoming Atmospheric Lidar (ATLID) on board the ESA EarthCARE mission.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Acceleration of Amphibian Forelimb Regeneration By Polypeptide Growth Factors

Growth factors are potentially important modulators of epimorphic regeneration. This study examined effects of intraperitoneal administration of selected growth factors on limb regeneration of adult newts, Notophthalmus viridescens. These agents stimulated regeneration, producing overlapping but nonidentical effects. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulated bud emergence (8.3 ± 0.6 and 8.3 ± 0.7 days, respectively, vs 11.4 ± 1.1 days for controls). Progression to the cone stage was enhanced by both FGF-2 and transforming growth factor beta 5 ( TGF-~ 5) ; 14.6 ± 0.5 and 15.4 ± 0.4 days with FGF-2 and TGF-~5 , respectively, vs 16.5 ± 0.5 days in controls. Insulin accelerated attainment of the palette stage, 17.0 ± 0.7 days vs 19.0 ± 0.4 days for controls. No treatments affected attaining the digital stage; means between 22.4 and 23.4 days. Histological analysis revealed changes consistent with gross observations. In addition, regenerates from newts treated with FGF-2, TGF-~5. and insulin displayed signs of greater (or earlier) histogenesis than did control animals. These results are consistent with the notion that FGF-2, TGF-~5. and possibly lGF-I stimulate proliferation of blastema cells and that insulin, FGF-2, and TGF-~5 promote differentiation and histogenesis during forelimb regeneration. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that several polypeptide growth factors positively affect the progress of forelimb regeneration, that different growth factors influence the same or similar events of epimorphic regeneration, and that diverse growth factors have nonidentical effects on regeneration

Comparison of organic cereal varieties - trial synthesis, triticale, spelt, winter barley, spring wheat, durum wheat, 2019

This tool is a synthesis of variety observations conducted all over France on triticale, spelt, winter barley, spring wheat, durum wheat in organic conditions. It is designed to help farmers to choose varieties that are adapted to organic conditions. The results are gathered and presented species by species and provide a wide range of observed characteristics

Gaps analysis and requirements specification for the evolution of Copernicus system for polar regions monitoring: addressing the challenges in the horizon 2020-2030

This work was developed as part of the European H2020 ONION (Operational Network of Individual Observation Nodes) project, aiming at identifying the technological opportunity areas to complement the Copernicus space infrastructure in the horizon 2020–2030 for polar region monitoring. The European Earth Observation (EO) infrastructure is assessed through of comprehensive end-user need and data gap analysis. This review was based on the top 10 use cases, identifying 20 measurements with gaps and 13 potential EO technologies to cover the identified gaps. It was found that the top priority is the observation of polar regions to support sustainable and safe commercial activities and the preservation of the environment. Additionally, an analysis of the technological limitations based on measurement requirements was performed. Finally, this analysis was used for the basis of the architecture design of a potential polar mission.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Retracing the molecular basis and evolutionary history of the loss of benzaldehyde emission in the genus Capsella

The transition from pollinator‐mediated outbreeding to selfing has occurred many times in angiosperms. This is generally accompanied by a reduction in traits attracting pollinators, including reduced emission of floral scent. In Capsella, emission of benzaldehyde as a main component of floral scent has been lost in selfing C. rubella by mutation of cinnamate‐CoA ligase CNL1. However, the biochemical basis and evolutionary history of this loss remain unknown, as does the reason for the absence of benzaldehyde emission in the independently derived selfer Capsella orientalis. We used plant transformation, in vitro enzyme assays, population genetics and quantitative genetics to address these questions. CNL1 has been inactivated twice independently by point mutations in C. rubella, causing a loss of enzymatic activity. Both inactive haplotypes are found within and outside of Greece, the centre of origin of C. rubella, indicating that they arose before its geographical spread. By contrast, the loss of benzaldehyde emission in C. orientalis is not due to an inactivating mutation in CNL1. CNL1 represents a hotspot for mutations that eliminate benzaldehyde emission, potentially reflecting the limited pleiotropy and large effect of its inactivation. Nevertheless, even closely related species have followed different evolutionary routes in reducing floral scent

LHC Communication Infrastructure: Recommendations from the working group

The LHC Working Group for Communication Infrastructure (CIWG) was established in May 1999 with members from the accelerator sector, the LHC physics experiments, the general communication services, the technical services and other LHC working groups. It has spent a year collecting user requirements and at the same time explored and evaluated possible solutions appropriate to the LHC. A number of technical recommendations were agreed, and areas where more work is required were identified. The working group also put forward proposals for organizational changes needed to allow the design project to continue and to prepare for the installation and commissioning phase of the LHC communication infrastructure. This paper reports on the work done and explains the motivation behind the recommendations

A dynamical classification of the range of pair interactions

We formalize a classification of pair interactions based on the convergence properties of the {\it forces} acting on particles as a function of system size. We do so by considering the behavior of the probability distribution function (PDF) P(F) of the force field F in a particle distribution in the limit that the size of the system is taken to infinity at constant particle density, i.e., in the "usual" thermodynamic limit. For a pair interaction potential V(r) with V(r) \rightarrow \infty) \sim 1/r^a defining a {\it bounded} pair force, we show that P(F) converges continuously to a well-defined and rapidly decreasing PDF if and only if the {\it pair force} is absolutely integrable, i.e., for a > d-1, where d is the spatial dimension. We refer to this case as {\it dynamically short-range}, because the dominant contribution to the force on a typical particle in this limit arises from particles in a finite neighborhood around it. For the {\it dynamically long-range} case, i.e., a \leq d-1, on the other hand, the dominant contribution to the force comes from the mean field due to the bulk, which becomes undefined in this limit. We discuss also how, for a \leq d-1 (and notably, for the case of gravity, a=d-2) P(F) may, in some cases, be defined in a weaker sense. This involves a regularization of the force summation which is generalization of the procedure employed to define gravitational forces in an infinite static homogeneous universe. We explain that the relevant classification in this context is, however, that which divides pair forces with a > d-2 (or a < d-2), for which the PDF of the {\it difference in forces} is defined (or not defined) in the infinite system limit, without any regularization. In the former case dynamics can, as for the (marginal) case of gravity, be defined consistently in an infinite uniform system.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure; significantly shortened and focussed, additional references, version to appear in J. Stat. Phy

Genetic Studies of Sulfadiazine-resistant and Methionine-requiring \u3cem\u3eNeisseria\u3c/em\u3e Isolated From Clinical Material

Deoxyribonucleate (DNA) preparations were extracted from Neisseria meningitidis (four isolates from spinal fluid and blood) and N. gonorrhoeae strains, all of which were resistant to sulfadiazine upon primary isolation. These DNA preparations, together with others from in vitro mutants of N. meningitidis and N. perflava, were examined in transformation tests by using as recipient a drug-susceptible strain of N. meningitidis (Ne 15 Sul-s Met+) which was able to grow in a methionine-free defined medium. The sulfadiazine resistance typical of each donor was introduced into the uniform constitution of this recipient. Production of p-aminobenzoic acid was not significantly altered thereby. Transformants elicited by DNA from the N. meningitidis clinical isolates were resistant to at least 200 μg of sulfadiazine/ml, and did not show a requirement for methionine (Sul-r Met+). DNA from six strains of N. gonorrhoeae, which were isolated during the period of therapeutic use of sulfonamides, conveyed lower degrees of resistance and, invariably, a concurrent methionine requirement (Sul-r/Met−). The requirement of these transformants, and that of in vitro mutants selected on sulfadiazine-agar, was satisfied by methionine, but not by vitamin B12, homocysteine, cystathionine, homoserine, or cysteine. Sul-r Met+ and Sul-r/Met− loci could coexist in the same genome, but were segregated during transformation. On the other hand, the dual Sul-r/Met− properties were not separated by recombination, but were eliminated together. DNA from various Sul-r/Met− clones tested against recipients having nonidentical Sul-r/Met− mutant sites yielded Sul-s Met+ transformants. The met locus involved is genetically complex, and will be a valuable tool for studies of genetic fine structure of members of Neisseria, and of genetic homology between species

Phosphoantigen/IL2 Expansion and Differentiation of Vγ2Vδ2 T Cells Increase Resistance to Tuberculosis in Nonhuman Primates

Dominant Vγ2Vδ2 T-cell subset exist only in primates, and recognize phosphoantigen from selected pathogens including M. tuberculosis(Mtb). In vivo function of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells in tuberculosis remains unknown. We conducted mechanistic studies to determine whether earlier expansion/differentiation of Vγ2Vδ2 T cells during Mtb infection could increase immune resistance to tuberculosis in macaques. Phosphoantigen/IL-2 administration specifically induced major expansion and pulmonary trafficking/accumulation of phosphoantigen-specific Vγ2Vδ2 T cells, significantly reduced Mtb burdens and attenuated tuberculosis lesions in lung tissues compared to saline/BSA or IL-2 controls. Expanded Vγ2Vδ2 T cells differentiated into multifunctional effector subpopulations capable of producing anti-TB cytokines IFNγ, perforin and granulysin, and co-producing perforin/granulysin in lung tissue. Mechanistically, perforin/granulysin-producing Vγ2Vδ2 T cells limited intracellular Mtb growth, and macaque granulysin had Mtb-bactericidal effect, and inhibited intracellular Mtb in presence of perforin. Furthermore, phosphoantigen/IL2-expanded Vγ2Vδ2 T effector cells produced IL-12, and their expansion/differentiation led to enhanced pulmonary responses of peptide-specific CD4+/CD8+ Th1-like cells. These results provide first in vivo evidence implicating that early expansion/differentiation of Vγ2Vδ2 T effector cells during Mtb infection increases resistance to tuberculosis. Thus, data support a rationale for conducting further studies of the γδ T-cell-targeted treatment of established TB, which might ultimately help explore single or adjunctive phosphoantigen expansion of Vγ2Vδ2 T-cell subset as intervention of MDR-tuberculosis or HIV-related tuberculosis