229 research outputs found
The genetics of symbiotic nitrogen fixation: comparative genomics of 14 Rhizobia Strains by resolution of protein clusters.
The symbiotic relationship between legumes and nitrogen fixing bacteria is critical for agriculture, as it may have profound impacts on lowering costs for farmers, on land sustainability, on soil quality, and on mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. However, despite the importance of the symbioses to the global nitrogen cycling balance, very few rhizobial genomes have been sequenced so far, although there are some ongoing efforts in sequencing elite strains. In this study, the genomes of fourteen selected strains of the order Rhizobiales, all previously fully sequenced and annotated, were compared to assess differences between the strains and to investigate the feasibility of defining a core ?symbiome??the essential genes required by all rhizobia for nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Comparison of these whole genomes has revealed valuable information, such as several events of lateral gene transfer, particularly in the symbiotic plasmids and genomic islands that have contributed to a better understanding of the evolution of contrasting symbioses. Unique genes were also identified, as well as omissions of symbiotic genes that were expected to be found. Protein comparisons have also allowed the identification of a variety of similarities and differences in several groups of genes, including those involved in nodulation, nitrogen fixation, production of exopolysaccharides, Type I to Type VI secretion systems, among others, and identifying some key genes that could be related to host specificity and/or a better saprophytic ability. However, while several significant differences in the type and number of proteins were observed, the evidence presented suggests no simple core symbiome exists. A more abstract systems biology concept of nitrogen fixing symbiosis may be required. The results have also highlighted that comparative genomics represents a valuable tool for capturing specificities and generalities of each genome.bitstream/item/74069/1/ID-34062.pd
What is the 'good' forensic accountant? A virtue ethics perspective
Purpose â The aim of this paper is to explore how virtue ethics might inform our understanding about what constitutes âgoodâ practice in forensic accounting. In particular, the paper explores the concept of phronesis (or practical wisdom) as a basis for guiding the application of professional judgement in forensic accounting practice. Design/methodology/approach â The paper draws on a review of relevant literature. Findings â Prior literature has identified a number of technical and personal characteristics and attributes that are desirable in forensic accounting practitioners. Although being ethical is identified as an important characteristic, the question of what constitutes a âgoodâ forensic accountant has not hitherto been investigated. Because of the professionâs multi-disciplinary and highly technical nature, forensic accountants are significantly at risk of conflating ethics with compliance with the law. The paper suggests that an understanding of virtue ethics and especially the virtue of âphronesisâ or practical wisdom will help forensic accountants maintain public confidence and quality in their services and provide practical guidance on the exercise of professional judgement. Practical implications â The paper suggests that the primacy currently given in forensic accounting literature and practice to a commercial logic, technical competencies and legal compliance risks damaging the professional standing of forensic accountants and, over time, reduces the ability of forensic accountants to exercise professional judgement in complex unstructured situations. Virtue ethics can act as a useful counter point to these threats. Social implications â A recognition of the need for the forensic accounting profession to collectively develop phronesis would re-establish the primacy of the professionâs public interest logic and maintain public trust and quality in forensic accounting services. Originality/value â There appears to be no prior literature in forensic accounting which explores the application of virtue ethics in this field. In addition, although virtue ethics has been the subject of some prior papers in accounting per se, the importance of phronesis as a basis for understanding the nature and application of professional judgement has not been addressed.Bryan Howieso
A quantative evaluation of the reformulated 1996 path-goal theory of work unit leadership via structural equation modelling
In 1996, Professor Robert J House published a reformulated Path-Goal Theory of Work Unit
Leadership, based on his earlier 1971 and 1974 theories. Path-goal leadership attempts to
explain the impact that leader behaviour has on subordinate motivation, satisfaction and
performance.
The aim of this context-specific study is to evaluate this reformulated â1996 Theoryâ via
Structural Equation Modelling with engineers from the Royal Air Force as the primary data
source.
This thesis offers a revised methodology to test path-goal leadership. In detail, three
moderator variables are modelled with four independent variables to establish association
with two dependent variables. In addition, five propositions from the â1996 Theoryâ are
examined. The analysis suggests that: the moderator influences preference for a particular
type of leadership behaviour (by the subordinate); leader behaviour has an impact on
subordinate satisfaction; leader behaviour affects satisfaction directly and performance
indirectly; subordinate satisfaction has a direct affect on subordinate performance; and
performance is influenced by the type of task demand.
It is considered that there is association between the variables; however, the direction of
this association is not known and it is difficult to predict accurately. Without further
research, which is replicated and revalidated with other cohorts, causality in the leader
behaviour â outcome variable paradigm cannot be argued.
Due to time constraints, the research has several limitations. Not all propositions cited in
the â1996 Theoryâ are tested and several other variables are not examined. Finally,
recommendations are made for future study, particularly replication with other cohorts in
the public, private and third sectors to ensure validity. This will help in determining
causality with leader behaviour and motivation, satisfaction and performance
Computer mouse movement patterns: A potential marker of mild cognitive impairment
AbstractIntroductionSubtle changes in cognitively demanding activities occur in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but are difficult to assess with conventional methods. In an exploratory study, we examined whether patterns of computer mouse movements obtained from routine home computer use discriminated between older adults with and without MCI.MethodsParticipants were 42 cognitively intact and 20 older adults with MCI enrolled in a longitudinal study of in-home monitoring technologies. Mouse pointer movement variables were computed during one week of routine home computer use using algorithms that identified and characterized mouse movements within each computer use session.ResultsMCI was associated with making significantly fewer total mouse moves (PÂ <Â .01) and making mouse movements that were more variable, less efficient, and with longer pauses between movements (PÂ <Â .05). Mouse movement measures were significantly associated with several cognitive domains (P values <.01â.05).DiscussionRemotely monitored computer mouse movement patterns are a potential early marker of real-world cognitive changes in MCI
High-quality permanent draft genome sequence of Rhizobium sullae strain WSM1592; a Hedysarum coronarium microsymbiont from Sassari, Italy
Rhizobium sullae strain WSM1592 is an aerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an effective nitrogen (N2) fixing root nodule formed on the short-lived perennial legume Hedysarum coronarium (also known as Sulla coronaria or Sulla). WSM1592 was isolated from a nodule recovered from H. coronarium roots located in Ottava, bordering Sassari, Sardinia in 1995. WSM1592 is highly effective at fixing nitrogen with H. coronarium, and is currently the commercial Sulla inoculant strain in Australia. Here we describe the features of R. sullae strain WSM1592, together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 7,530,820 bp high-quality permanent draft genome is arranged into 118 scaffolds of 118 contigs containing 7.453 protein-coding genes and 73 RNA-only encoding genes. This rhizobial genome is sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Genomic Encyclopedia for Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria (GEBA-RNB) project
Genome sequence of the Trifolium rueppellianum -nodulating Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain WSM2012
Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii WSM2012 (syn. MAR1468) is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that was isolated from an ineffective root nodule recovered from the roots of the annual clover Trifolium rueppellianum Fresen. growing in Ethiopia. WSM2012 has a narrow, specialized host range for N2-fixation. Here we describe the features of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain WSM2012, together with genome sequence information and annotation. The 7,180,565 bp high-quality-draft genome is arranged into 6 scaffolds of 68 contigs, contains 7,080 protein-coding genes and 86 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of 20 rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Community Sequencing Progra
Genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. WSM1253; a microsymbiont of Ornithopus compressus from the Greek Island of Sifnos
Bradyrhizobium sp. WSM1253 is a novel N2-fixing bacterium isolated from a root nodule of the herbaceous annual legume Ornithopus compressus that was growing on the Greek Island of Sifnos. WSM1253 emerged as a strain of interest in an Australian program that was selecting inoculant quality bradyrhizobial strains for inoculation of Mediterranean species of lupins (Lupinus angustifolius, L. princei, L. atlanticus, L. pilosus). In this report we describe, for the first time, the genome sequence information and annotation of this legume microsymbiont. The 8,719,808 bp genome has a Gâ+âC content of 63.09 % with 71 contigs arranged into two scaffolds. The assembled genome contains 8,432 protein-coding genes, 66 RNA genes and a single rRNA operon. This improved-high-quality draft rhizobial genome is one of 20 sequenced through a DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Community Sequencing Project
Crop Updates - 2003 Pulses
This session covers fifty one papers from different authors
2002 PULSE INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
CONTRIBUTORS
BACKGROUND
2002 REGIONAL ROUNDUP
1.Northern Agricultural Region, M. Harries, Department of Agriculture
2.Central agricultural Region, R. French and I. Pritchard, Department of Agriculture
3.Great Southern and Lakes, R. Beermier, N. Poulish and S. White, Department of Agriculture
4.Esperance Mallee, M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture
PULSE PRODUCTION ECONOMY AND GENETIC IMPROVEMENT
5.Faba Bean, P. White, Department of Agriculture
6.Germplasm evaluation, P. White, T. Pope, M. Harries and M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture
7.Row spacing and sowing rate, M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture
8.Tolerance to post emergent herbicides, M. Seymour, M. Harries, R. Beermier, M. Blyth and L. Young, Department of Agriculture
9.Investigation of environmental staining and storage discolouration, N. Abbas1,2, J. Plummer1, P. White3, D. Harris4 and K. Siddique1,2, 1Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 2CLIMA, The University of Western Australia, 3Department of Agriculture, 4Chemistry Centre of Western Australia.
Desi chickpea
10.Breeding highlights, T. Khan1,2 and K. Siddique2 1Department of Agriculture, 2CLIMA, The University of Western Australia
11. Variety evaluation, T. Khan and K. Regan, Department of Agriculture
12. Residual effect of chickpea row spacing and sowing rate on wheat yield, G. Riethmuller and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture
13. Genotype x environmental interaction studies to help explain adaptation, J. Berger1, N. Turner1,2, K. Siddique1, 1CLIMA, The University of Western Australia, 2CSIRO Plant Industry
14. Genetic characterisation of wild relatives, F. Shan and H. Clarke, CLIMA, The University of Western Australia
15. Tolerance to chilling at flowering, H. Clarke, CLIMA, The University of Western Australia
16. Kabuli chickpea, K. Regan, Department of Agriculture
17. Premium quality varieties for the Ord River Irrigation Area, K. Siddique1, K. Regan2 and P. Smith2 1CLIMA, The University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture
18. Development of aschochyta resistant varieties for Australia, K. Siddique1, K. Regan2 and M. Baker2 1CLIMA, University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture
Field pea
19. Breeding highlights, T. Khan and B. French, Department of Agriculture
20. Variety evaluation, T. Khan, Department of Agriculture
21. Specialty types for the high rainfall regions, P. White and T. Khan, Department of Agriculture
22. Are new varieties more sensitive to delayed sowing than Dundale? R. French, M. Seymour and R. Beermier, Department of Agriculture
23. Does the size of sown seed affect seed size and yield at harvest? R. Beermier and N. Poulish, Department of Agriculture
24. Tolerance to post emergent herbicides, H. Dhammu, T. Piper and D. Nicholson, Department of Agriculture
25. Lentil, K. Regan, Department of Agriculture
26. Variety evaluation, K. Regan and M. Harries, Department of Agriculture
27. Interstate evaluation of advanced breeding lines, K. Regan1 and M. Materne2 1Department of Agriculture, 2Victorian Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Agriculture Victoria
28. Timing of harvest for the best seed yield, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture
29. Tolerance to post emergent herbicides, M. Harries and D. Nicholson, Department of Agriculture, H. Dhammu, T. Piper and L. Young, Department of Agriculture
30. Row spacing and stubble, G. Riethmuller, Department of Agriculture
Pulse species
31. High value pulses for the high rainfall areas, N. Poulish1, P. White1,2 and K. Siddique1,2 , 1Department of Agriculture, 2CLIMA, The University of Western Australia
32. Alternative Rhizobium inoculant carrier technologies, J. Howieson and R. Yates, Centre for Rhizobium Studies (CRS), Murdoch University
33. Time of harvest to improve seed yield and quality of pulses, G. Riethmuller and R. French, Department of Agriculture
34. Phosphorus and zinc responses in pulses, S. Loss1, Z. Rengel2, B. Bowden3, M. Bolland3 and K. Siddique4 , 1Wesfarmers CSBP, 2Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, The University of Western Australia, 3Department of Agriculture, 4CLIMA, The University of Western Australia
35. Robust protocols for doubled haploid production in field pea and chickpea, J. Croser and K. Siddique, CLIMA, The University of Western Australia
DEMONSTRATION OF PULSES IN THE FARMING SYSTEM
36. Field pea and lentil on clayed sandplain, M. Seymour, Department of Agriculture
37. Field pea variety demonstration, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture
38. The benefit of field peas compared to lupins, R. Beermier, Department of Agriculture
DISEASE AND PEST MANAGEMENT
39. Ascochyta blight of chickpea, B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture
40. Management of chickpeas with improved ascochyta resistance, B. Macleod, A. Harrod, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture
41. Chlorothalonil provides the most effective control, B. Macleod, A. Harrod, M. Harries and M. Blyth, Department of Agriculture
42. Importance of early sprays and value of seed dressing (post emergence), B. Macleod and A. Harrod, Department of Agriculture
43. A windborne stage of ascochyta blight in WA, J. Galloway and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture
Ascochyta disease of pulses
44. Geographic location effects ascochyta spore maturation on pulse stubble, J. Galloway and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture
Blackspot of field pea
45. Rapid recurrent selection to improve resistance to black spot, C. Beeck1, J. Wroth1, W. Cowling1 and T. Khan2, 1Plant Science, The University of Western Australia, 2Department of Agriculture
46. Survival of blackspot on old field pea stubble, J. Galloway and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture
47. Blackspot spores mature earlier in the southern regions, M. Salam, J. Galloway, A. Diggle and B. MacLeod, Department of Agriculture
Viruses in pulses
48. Early insecticide application suppresses spread of Beet Western Yellows virus in field pea, R. Jones, B. Coutts and L. Smith, Department of Agriculture, and CLIMA, The University of Western Australia
Insect pests and nematodes
49. Incorporation of pea weevil resistance from Pisum fulvum into field pea, O. Byrne1 and D. Hardie2, 1CLIMA, The University of Western Australia 2Department of Agriculture
50. Resistance to Helicoverpa in wild species of chickpea, J. Ridsdill-Smith1, H. Sharma2 and K. Mann1, 1CSIRO Entomology, Western Australia, 2 ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India
51. Relative hosting ability of field pea genotypes to root lesion nematode, S. Kelly, S. Sharma, H. Hunter and V. Vanstone, Department of Agriculture
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
APPENDIX I: Publications by Pulse Productivity Project Staff 2002
APPENDIX II: Summary of previous results
APPENDIX III: List of common acronym
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