Excessive delay in nutrient release by controlled-release fertilizers can reduce chestnut yield

Farmers are increasing the use of fertilizers in chestnut, the only cash crop produced in the mountainous areas of northeastern Portugal. This calls for more studies to guide them towards a more ecological intensification. The effects of three controlled-release fertilizers, two that release nutrients over three months (BoskGrow 20:05:20_3m, Exactyon 18:05:13_3m) and one over six months (Exactyon 18:05:12_6m), and an organic amendment authorized for organic farming (Humix 12:03:05) were compared with an untreated control during a three-year field trial (2019–2021). BoskGrow 20:05:20_3m, Exactyon 18:05:13_3m and Humix 12:03:05 gave significantly higher nut yields (90.6 to 97.0 kg tree−1, average 2019 + 2021) than Exactyon 18:05:12_6m (66.3 kg tree−1) and the control (69.5 kg tree−1). Leaf concentrations of nitrogen and potassium tended to be higher in the BoskGrow 20:05:20_3m and Exactyon 18:05:13_3m treatments, and they were stated as the most important causes in the establishment of the two productive groups. Humix 12:03:05, although less concentrated in nutrients, led to a chestnut yield at the level of the most productive treatments, possibly due to the multiple positive effects of organic matter on soil and plants. Under the conditions of this experiment, where rainfall is low in the summer, fertilizers whose nutrient release takes a long time, such as Exactyon 18:05:12_6m, seem not to be a good fertilization option due to reduced nutrient uptake and increased levels of soil inorganic nitrogen at the end of the growing season. Humix 12:03:05 emerged as a possible solution for organic producers.This work was funded by the Operational Group “EGIS—Estratégias de Gestão Integrada do Solo e da Água em Espécies Produtoras de Frutos Secos”, funded by PT2020 and EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development). The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for the financial support to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and CITAB (UIDB/04033/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Transcriptomic and proteomic responses of the oceanic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia granii to iron limitation

Diatoms are a highly successful group of photosynthetic protists that often thrive under adverse environmental conditions. Members of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia are ecologically important diatoms which are able to subsist during periods of chronic iron limitation and form dense blooms following iron fertilization events. The cellular strategies within diatoms that orchestrate these physiological responses to variable iron concentrations remain largely uncharacterized. Using a combined transcriptomic and proteomic approach, we explore the exceptional ability of a diatom isolated from the iron-limited Northeast Pacific Ocean to reorganize its intracellular processes as a function of iron. We compared the molecular responses of Pseudo-nitzschia granii observed under iron-replete and iron-limited growth conditions to those of other model diatoms. Iron-coordinated molecular responses demonstrated some agreement between gene expression and protein abundance, including iron-starvation-induced-proteins, a putative iron transport system and components of photosynthesis and the Calvin cycle. Pseudo-nitzschia granii distinctly differentially expresses genes encoding proteins involved in iron-independent photosynthetic electron transport, urea acquisition and vitamin synthesis. We show that P. granii is unique among studied diatoms in its physiology stemming from distinct cellular responses, which may underlie its ability to subsist in low iron regions and rapidly bloom to outcompete other diatom taxa following iron enrichment

Vortex Line Fluctuations in Model High Temperature Superconductors

We carry out Monte Carlo simulations of the uniformly frustrated 3d XY model as a model for vortex line fluctuations in a high Tc superconductor. A density of vortex lines of f=1/25 is considered. We find two sharp phase transitions. The low T phase is an ordered vortex line lattice. The high T normal phase is a vortex line liquid with much entangling, cutting, and loop excitations. An intermediate phase is found which is characterized as a vortex line liquid of disentangled lines. In this phase, the system displays superconducting properties in the direction parallel to the magnetic field, but normal behavior in planes perpendicular to the magnetic field.Comment: 38 pages, LaTeX 15 figures (upon request to [email protected]

Efficient zinc/cobalt inter-replacement in northeast Pacific diatoms and relationship to high surface dissolved Co : Zn ratios

The importance of zinc (Zn) as a nutrient and its ability to be substituted for by cobalt (Co) have been characterized in model marine diatoms. However, the extent to which this substitution capability is distributed among diatom taxa is unknown. Zn/Co metabolic substitution was assayed in four diatom species as measured by the effect of free ion concentrations of Zn2+ and Co2+ on specific growth rate. Analysis of growth responses found substitution of these metals can occur within the northwest Atlantic isolate Thalassiosira pseudonana CCMP1335, the northeast Atlantic isolate Phaeodactylum tricornutum CCMP632, and within the northeast Pacific isolates Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima UNC1205 and Thalassiosira sp. UNC1203. Metabolic substitution of Co in place of Zn in the Atlantic diatoms supports their growth in media lacking added Zn, but at the cost of reduced growth rates. In contrast, highly efficient Zn/Co substitution that supported growth even in media lacking added Zn was observed in the northeast Pacific diatoms. We also present new data from the northeast Pacific Line P transect that revealed dissolved Co and Zn ratios (dCo : dZn) as high as 3.52 : 1 at surface (0–100 m) depths. We posit that the enhanced ability of the NE Pacific diatoms to grow using Co is an adaptation to these high surface dCo : dZn ratios. Particulate metal data and single-cell metal quotas also suggest a high Zn demand in diatoms that may be partially compensated for by Co

Human surface anatomy terminology for dermatology: a Delphi consensus from the International Skin Imaging Collaboration

BackgroundThere is no internationally vetted set of anatomic terms to describe human surface anatomy.ObjectiveTo establish expert consensus on a standardized set of terms that describe clinically relevant human surface anatomy.MethodsWe conducted a Delphi consensus on surface anatomy terminology between July 2017 and July 2019. The initial survey included 385 anatomic terms, organized in seven levels of hierarchy. If agreement exceeded the 75% established threshold, the term was considered - accepted- and included in the final list. Terms added by the participants were passed on to the next round of consensus. Terms with <75% agreement were included in subsequent surveys along with alternative terms proposed by participants until agreement was reached on all terms.ResultsThe Delphi included 21 participants. We found consensus (- ¥75% agreement) on 361/385 (93.8%) terms and eliminated one term in the first round. Of 49 new terms suggested by participants, 45 were added via consensus. To adjust for a recently published International Classification of Diseases- Surface Topography list of terms, a third survey including 111 discrepant terms was sent to participants. Finally, a total of 513 terms reached agreement via the Delphi method.ConclusionsWe have established a set of 513 clinically relevant terms for denoting human surface anatomy, towards the use of standardized terminology in dermatologic documentation.Linked Commentary: R.J.G. Chalmers. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2020; 34: 2456- 2457. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.16978.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163915/1/jdv16855_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163915/2/jdv16855-sup-0001-FigS1-S3.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163915/3/jdv16855.pd

Vortex Dynamics and Defects in Simulated Flux Flow

We present the results of molecular dynamic simulations of a two-dimensional vortex array driven by a uniform current through random pinning centers at zero temperature. We identify two types of flow of the driven array near the depinning threshold. For weak disorder the flux array contains few dislocation and moves via correlated displacements of patches of vortices in a {\it crinkle} motion. As the disorder strength increases, we observe a crossover to a spatially inhomogeneous regime of {\it plastic} flow, with a very defective vortex array and a channel-like structure of the flowing regions. The two regimes are characterized by qualitatively different spatial distribution of vortex velocities. In the crinkle regime the distribution of vortex velocities near threshold has a single maximum that shifts to larger velocities as the driving force is increased. In the plastic regime the distribution of vortex velocities near threshold has a clear bimodal structure that persists upon time-averaging the individual velocities. The bimodal structure of the velocity distribution reflects the coexistence of pinned and flowing regions and is proposed as a quantitative signature of plastic flow.Comment: 12 pages, 13 embedded PostScript figure

Application of the 2008 definitions for invasive fungal diseases to the trial comparing voriconazole versus amphotericin B for therapy of invasive aspergillosis: a collaborative study of the Mycoses Study Group (MSG 05) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Infectious Diseases Group.

BACKGROUND: Strict definition of invasive aspergillosis (IA) cases is required to allow precise conclusions about the efficacy of antifungal therapy. The Global Comparative Aspergillus Study (GCAS) compared voriconazole to amphotericin B (AmB) deoxycholate for the primary therapy of IA. Because predefined definitions used for this trial were substantially different from the consensus definitions proposed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group in 2008, we recategorized the 379 episodes of the GCAS according to the later definitions. METHODS: The objectives were to assess the impact of the current definitions on the classification of the episodes and to provide comparative efficacy for probable/proven and possible IA in patients treated with either voriconazole or AmB. In addition to original data, we integrated the results of baseline galactomannan serum levels obtained from 249 (65.7%) frozen samples. The original response assessment was accepted unchanged. RESULTS: Recategorization allowed 59 proven, 178 probable, and 106 possible IA cases to be identified. A higher favorable 12-week response rate was obtained with voriconazole (54.7%) than with AmB (29.9%) (P &lt; .0001). Survival was higher for voriconazole for mycologically documented (probable/proven) IA (70.2%) than with AmB (54.9%) (P = .010). Higher response rates were obtained in possible IA treated with voriconazole vs AmB with the same magnitude of difference (26.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.2%-45.3%) as in mycologically documented episodes (24.3%; 95% CI, 11.9%-36.7%), suggesting that possible cases are true IA. CONCLUSIONS: Recategorization resulted in a better identification of the episodes and confirmed the higher efficacy of voriconazole over AmB deoxycholate in mycologically documented IA

In utero exposure to benzo[a]pyrene increases mutation burden in the soma and sperm of adult mice

Background: Mosaicism, the presence of genetically distinct cell populations within an organism, has emerged as an important contributor to disease. Mutational events occurring during embryonic development can cause mosaicism in any tissue, but the influence of environmental factors on levels of mosaicism is unclear. Objectives: We investigated whether in utero exposure to the widespread environmental mutagen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has an impact on the burden and distribution of mutations in adult mice. Methods: We used the Muta™Mouse transgenic rodent model to quantify and characterize mutations in the offspring of pregnant mice exposed to BaP during postconception days 7 through 16, covering the major period of organogenesis in mice. Next-generation DNA sequencing was then used to determine the spectrum of mutations induced in adult mice that were exposed to BaP during fetal development. Results: Mutation frequency was significantly increased in the bone marrow, liver, brain, and sperm of first filial generation (F1) males. Developing embryos accumulated more mutations and exhibited higher proportions of mosaicism than exposed adults, particularly in the brain. Decreased sperm count and motility revealed additional negative impacts on the reproductive function of F1 males. Conclusion: In utero exposure to environmental mutagens contributes to somatic and germline mosaicism, permanently affecting both the genetic health of the F1 and the population gene pool. Citation: Meier MJ, O’Brien JM, Beal MA, Allan B, Yauk CL, Marchetti F. 2017. In utero exposure to benzo[a]pyrene increases mutation burden in the soma and sperm of adult mice

Report on Gun Conditioning Activities at PITZ in 2013

Recently three RF guns were prepared at the Photo Injector Test Facility at DESY, location Zeuthen PITZ for their subsequent operation at FLASH and the European XFEL. The gun 3.1 is a previous cavity design and is currently installed and operated at FLASH, the other two guns 4.3 and 4.4 were of the current cavity design and are dedicated to serve for the start up of the European XFEL photo injector. All three cavities had been dry ice cleaned prior their conditioning and hence showed low dark current levels. The lowest dark current level as low as 60 amp; 956;A at 65MV m field amplitude has been observed for the gun 3.1. This paper reports in details about the conditioning process of the most recent gun 4.4. It informs about experience gained at PITZ during establishing of the RF conditioning procedure and provides a comparison with the other gun cavities in terms of the dark currents. It also summarizes the major setup upgrades, which have affected the conditioning processes of the cavitie