Floral scent and pollinator visitation in relation to floral colour morph in the mixed-mating annual herb Collinsia heterophylla

Even though floral scent is of major importance for pollinator attraction, it is less investigated than other floral traits. Previous studies suggest the importance of joint exploration of olfactory and visual floral cues to understand plant-pollinator interactions. We investigated flower scents in Collinsia heterophylla, a bee-pollinated, annual herb a with mixed-mating system combining self- and outcross-pollination. In Collinsia, floral size and development variation is related to mating system, ranging from large-flowered mixed-mating species to small-flowered self-pollinated species. However, to our knowledge, flower scent has not been described in any species in the genus. We also studied whether flower-emitted volatiles were coupled to presence versus absence of a coloured band on the upper lip within a population in C. heterophylla, and if these colour morphs affected pollinator visitation. We performed headspace collections of volatiles in the greenhouse from potted flowering plants, and compared these to controls in the bud stage. Flower-specific volatiles were highly dominated by terpenoid compounds typical of bee-pollinated plants, such as beta-myrcene, (Z)- and (E)-ocimene and sesquiterpenes (E)-alpha-bergamotene and beta-sesquiphellandrene. The aliphatic ester methyl hexanoate was also prominent, together with additional esters, whereas methyl cinnamate constituted the only aromatic compound. Floral colour morphs showed no qualitative difference in volatiles, but the coloured morph produced significantly higher quantities for seven of the 26 individual flower compounds. A field experiment performed within a natural population, using behavioural observations and florescent dyes dusted on the flowers, could not detect any differences in pollinator visitation between colour morphs. We conclude that C. heterophylla flowers emit volatile compounds commonly associated with attraction of their most important pollinators. It would be highly interesting to explore the function of floral scent for pollinator attraction and relate floral scent to mating system variation across Collinsia for a better understanding of pollinator influence on floral evolution

GPT-4:n hyödyntäminen hakusanamainonnassa

Tiivistelmä. Tässä kandidaatintyössä tarkastellaan OpenAI:n kehittämän GPT-4-mallin, hyödyntämistä hakusanamainonnassa Google Ads -alustalla. Kirjallisuuskatsauksessa käsitellään hakusanamainonnan ja Google Ads -alustan perusteita, esitellään tekoälyn viimeaikaista kehitystä, sekä syvennytään GPT-4:n toimintaan ja ominaisuuksiin. Case-tutkimuksessa sovelletaan GPT-4-mallia Google Ads -hakusanakampanjan luomiseen. Case-tutkimuksessa seurataan myös tekoälyn ansiosta tapahtuvaa työn tehokkuuden, sekä laadun paranemista. Tulokset osoittavat, että GPT-4:n käyttäminen Google Ads hakusanakampanjan suunnittelussa parantaa työn tehokkuutta merkittävästi, sekä parantaa jonkin verran työn laatua. Case tutkimus osoittaa, että GPT-4:n avulla on mahdollista luoda mainoskampanja paljon nopeammin, mutta samalla laadukkaammin. Kohdeyrityksen ja sen brändin ymmärtäminen, avainsanojen suunnittelu ja mainosotsikoiden sekä mainoskuvausten suunnittelu olivat työvaiheita, joissa saavutettiin merkittävää säästöä tekoälyn avulla, verrattuna perinteisiin työskentelymalleihin. Tämän työn tulokset voivat olla hyödyllisiä sekä mainostoimistoille, että itsenäisille mainostajille. Työ tarjoaa konkreettisia esimerkkejä siitä, kuinka tekoälyä voidaan hyödyntää hakusanakampanjan suunnittelussa.Utilizing GPT-4 in keyword advertising. Abstract. In this bachelor’s thesis, the utilization of the GPT-4 model developed by OpenAI in keyword advertising on the Google Ads platform is examined. The literature review discusses the basics of keyword advertising and the Google Ads platform, introduces recent developments in artificial intelligence, and delves into the operation and features of GPT-4. In the case study, the GPT-4 model is applied to the creation of a Google Ads keyword campaign. The case study tracks the improvement in work efficiency and quality resulting from the use of artificial intelligence. The results show that using GPT-4 in the design of a Google Ads keyword campaign significantly improves work efficiency and somewhat enhances the quality of the work. The case study demonstrates that it is possible to create an advertising campaign much faster but at the same time with higher quality using GPT-4. Understanding the target company and its brand, designing keywords, and planning ad headlines and descriptions were stages of work where significant savings were achieved thanks to artificial intelligence, compared to traditional working models. The results of this work may be useful for both advertising agencies and independent advertisers. The work provides concrete examples and insights into how artificial intelligence can be used in the design of a keyword campaign

Impact of copper and zinc on the growth of saprotrophic fungi and the production of extracellular enzymes

Peer reviewe

FADS1 rs174550 genotype and high linoleic acid diet modify plasma PUFA phospholipids in a dietary intervention study

Introduction: Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) gene encodes for delta-5 desaturase enzyme which is needed in conversion of linoleic acid (LA) to arachidonic acid (AA). Recent studies have shown that response to dietary PUFAs differs between the genotypes in circulating fatty acids. However, interactions between the FADS1 genotype and dietary LA on overall metabolism have not been studied. Objectives: We aimed to examine the interactions of FADS1 rs174550 genotypes (TT and CC) and high-LA diet to identify plasma metabolites that respond differentially to dietary LA according to the FADS1 genotype. Methods: A total of 59 men (TT n = 26, CC n = 33) consumed a sunflower oil supplemented diet for 4\ua0weeks. Daily dose of 30, 40, or 50\ua0ml was calculated based on body mass index. It resulted in 17–28\ua0g of LA on top of the usual daily intake. Fasting plasma samples at the beginning and at the end of the intervention were analyzed with LC–MS/MS non-targeted metabolomics method. Results: At the baseline, the carriers of FADS1 rs174550-TT genotype had higher abundance of long-chain PUFA phospholipids compared to the FADS1 rs174550-CC one. In response to the high-LA diet, LA phospholipids and long-chain acylcarnitines increased and lysophospholipids decreased in fasting plasma similarly in both genotypes. LysoPE (20:4), LysoPC (20:4), and PC (16:0_20:4) decreased and cortisol increased in the carriers of rs174550-CC genotype; however, these genotype–diet interactions were not significant after correction for multiple testing. Conclusion: Our findings show that both FADS1 rs174550 genotype and high-LA diet modify plasma phospholipid composition. Trial registration: The study was registered to ClinicalTrials: NCT02543216, September 7, 2015 (retrospectively registered)

Repeated cobalt and chromium ion measurements in patients with large-diameter head metal-on-metal ReCap-M2A-Magnum total hip replacement

Background and purpose - Whole blood (WB) cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) ion levels have a major role in the follow-up of metal-on-metal total hip replacement (MoM THR). We investigated, first, if there was a change in WB Co or Cr levels over repeated measurements in patients with ReCap-M2A-Magnum THR, and, second, determined how many patients had WB Co or Cr levels that exceeded the safe upper limits (SUL) in the repeated whole blood metal ion assessment. Patients and methods - A Recap-M2A-Magnum THR was used in 1,329 operations (1,188 patients) at our institution between 2005 and 2012. We identified all patients (n = 319) with unilateral ReCap-M2A-Magnum implants who had undergone at least 2 repeated metal ion measurements with the first blood sample taken mean 5.5 years (1.8-9.3) after surgery and the second taken mean 2 years (0.5-3) after the first. Results - The median WB Co and Cr ion levels decreased in repeated measurements from 1.40 (0.40-63) ppb to 1.10 (0.20-68) ppb and from 1.60 (0.60-13.0) ppb to 1.10 (0.30-19.0) ppb, respectively. 7% of the Co ion values exceeded SUL at the initial measurement, and 7% at the control measurement. The proportion of Cr ion values exceeding the safe upper limit (SUL) decreased during the measurement interval from 5% to 4%. Interpretation - Repeated metal ion measurements in unilateral ReCap-M2A-Magnum patients in a mean 2-year time interval did not show any increase. Long-term ion levels are, however, not yet known

Sexual Conflict and Sexually Antagonistic Coevolution in an Annual Plant

BACKGROUND: Sexual conflict theory predicts sexually antagonistic coevolution of reproductive traits driven by conflicting evolutionary interests of two reproducing individuals. Most studies of the evolutionary consequences of sexual conflicts have, however, to date collectively investigated only a few species. In this study we used the annual herb Collinsia heterophylla to experimentally test the existence and evolutionary consequences of a potential sexual conflict over onset of stigma receptivity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted crosses within and between four greenhouse-grown populations originating from two regions. Our experimental setup allowed us to investigate male-female interactions at three levels of geographic distances between interacting individuals. Both recipient and pollen donor identity affected onset of stigma receptivity within populations, confirming previous results that some pollen donors can induce stigma receptivity. We also found that donors were generally better at inducing stigma receptivity following pollen deposition on stigmas of recipients from another population than their own, especially within a region. On the other hand, we found that donors did worse at inducing stigma receptivity in crosses between regions. Interestingly, recipient costs in terms of lowered seed number after early fertilisation followed the same pattern: the cost was apparent only if the pollen donor belonged to the same region as the recipient. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that recipients are released from the cost of interacting with local pollen donors when crossed with donors from a more distant location, a pattern consistent with a history of sexually antagonistic coevolution within populations. Accordingly, sexual conflicts may have important evolutionary consequences also in plants

Whole-genome sequencing elucidates the species-wide diversity and evolution of fungicide resistance in the early blight pathogen Alternaria solani

Early blight of potato is caused by the fungal pathogen Alternaria solani and is an increasing problem worldwide. The primary strategy to control the disease is applying fungicides such as succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI). SDHI-resistant strains, showing reduced sensitivity to treatments, appeared in Germany in 2013, shortly after the introduction of SDHIs. Two primary mutations in the SDH complex (SdhB-H278Y and SdhC-H134R) have been frequently found throughout Europe. How these resistances arose and spread, and whether they are linked to other genomic features, remains unknown. For this project, we performed whole-genome sequencing for 48 A. solani isolates from potato fields across Europe to better characterize the pathogen's genetic diversity in general and understand the development and spread of the genetic mutations that lead to SDHI resistance. The isolates can be grouped into seven genotypes. These genotypes do not show a geographical pattern but appear spread throughout Europe. We found clear evidence for recombination on the genome, and the observed admixtures might indicate a higher adaptive potential of the fungus than previously thought. Yet, we cannot link the observed recombination events to different Sdh mutations. The same Sdh mutations appear in different, non-admixed genetic backgrounds; therefore, we conclude they arose independently. Our research gives insights into the genetic diversity of A. solani on a genome level. The mixed occurrence of different genotypes, apparent admixture in the populations, and evidence for recombination indicate higher genomic complexity than anticipated. The conclusion that SDHI tolerance arose multiple times independently has important implications for future fungicide resistance management strategies. These should not solely focus on preventing the spread of isolates between locations but also on limiting population size and the selective pressure posed by fungicides in a given field to avoid the rise of new mutations in other genetic backgrounds

Whole Grain Products, Fish and Bilberries Alter Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in a Randomized, Controlled Trial: The Sysdimet Study

Due to the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes, new dietary solutions are needed to help improve glucose and lipid metabolism in persons at high risk of developing the disease. Herein we investigated the effects of low-insulin-response grain products, fatty fish, and berries on glucose metabolism and plasma lipidomic profiles in persons with impaired glucose metabolism.Altogether 106 men and women with impaired glucose metabolism and with at least two other features of the metabolic syndrome were included in a 12-week parallel dietary intervention. The participants were randomized into three diet intervention groups: (1) whole grain and low postprandial insulin response grain products, fatty fish three times a week, and bilberries three portions per day (HealthyDiet group), (2) Whole grain enriched diet (WGED) group, which includes principally the same grain products as group (1), but with no change in fish or berry consumption, and (3) refined wheat breads (Control). Oral glucose tolerance, plasma fatty acids and lipidomic profiles were measured before and after the intervention. Self-reported compliance with the diets was good and the body weight remained constant. Within the HealthyDiet group two hour glucose concentration and area-under-the-curve for glucose decreased and plasma proportion of (n-3) long-chain PUFAs increased (False Discovery Rate p-values <0.05). Increases in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid associated curvilinearly with the improved insulin secretion and glucose disposal. Among the 364 characterized lipids, 25 changed significantly in the HealthyDiet group, including multiple triglycerides incorporating the long chain (n-3) PUFA.The results suggest that the diet rich in whole grain and low insulin response grain products, bilberries, and fatty fish improve glucose metabolism and alter the lipidomic profile. Therefore, such a diet may have a beneficial effect in the efforts to prevent type 2 diabetes in high risk persons.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00573781