Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Alate Aphid Dispersal in Snap Bean Fields in Proximity to Alfalfa and Implications for Virus Management

Alfalfa is a source for viruses that may be acquired by aphids and transmitted to snap bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. Snap bean fields in proximity to alfalfa could have an increased risk of virus infection. Knowledge of the abundance and temporal and spatial dispersal patterns of commonly encountered aphids in commercial snap bean fields, varying in distance from alfalfa, could provide insight into this risk. Alate aphids were monitored using water pan traps in snap bean and alfalfa fields that were adjacent to or >1 km away from each other. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), was the most common aphid species captured in early-planted snap bean fields in 2002 and 2003 (56 and 23% of total, respectively), whereas the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), also was common in 2003 (15% of total). In contrast, the yellow clover aphid, Therioaphis trifolii (Monell), and soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, were the most abundant species trapped in late-planted snap bean fields in 2002 (77% of total) and 2003 (64% of total), respectively. These species were prevalent in traps in alfalfa as well. The abundance and temporal dispersal patterns of these species in snap beans adjacent to and >1 km away from alfalfa were similar, suggesting that the risk for virus infection may not be affected by proximity to alfalfa. A similar number of alate aphids also were captured along snap bean field edges and field centers, regardless of their proximity to alfalfa. This suggests that the aphids dispersed into snap bean randomly rather than directionally from the field edge. The implication of these results is that separating snap bean fields from alfalfa or using crop borders/barriers are not likely to be successful virus management strategie

Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics with a Spin Qubit

Circuit quantum electrodynamics allows spatially separated superconducting qubits to interact via a "quantum bus", enabling two-qubit entanglement and the implementation of simple quantum algorithms. We combine the circuit quantum electrodynamics architecture with spin qubits by coupling an InAs nanowire double quantum dot to a superconducting cavity. We drive single spin rotations using electric dipole spin resonance and demonstrate that photons trapped in the cavity are sensitive to single spin dynamics. The hybrid quantum system allows measurements of the spin lifetime and the observation of coherent spin rotations. Our results demonstrate that a spin-cavity coupling strength of 1 MHz is feasible.Comment: Related papers at http://pettagroup.princeton.edu

A multi-centre randomised phase III trial of Dexamethasone vs Dexamethasone and diethylstilbestrol in castration-resistant prostate cancer: immediate vs deferred Diethylstilbestrol

From twelve months after its original publication, this work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.London NHS Trust sponsored this stud

Electoral manipulation and the development of Russia's political system

The allegations of electoral manipulation surrounding Russia's parliamentary election of December 2011 were nothing new. Regional elections in October 2009 resulted in victory for Putin's United Russia, followed by a walkout from the State Duma by the other parliamentary parties, to protest the elections’ conduct. Multi-layered questions surround the role of electoral manipulation for different actors in Russia's political system. Analysis focused on the elections of October 2009 shows that regime, opposition, and regional authorities all have conflicting motivations. For the regime, electoral manipulation helps to secure power and legitimacy, but its uncovering undermines that legitimacy. For the opposition, participation in elections provides an opportunity to both gain electoral representation and to de-legitimise the regime by declaring the ballot flawed. Regional leaders owe their positions to the regime and must balance any obligation to deliver ‘correct’ election results against mixed signals on the nature of that regime and of democracy in Russia

One Europe or None? Monism, Involution and Relations with Russia

The crisis in relations between Russia and the European Union (EU) is part of the broader breakdown of the post-Cold War security order. This commentary focuses on structural interpretation and identifies four interlinked processes shaping the crisis: tension between the logic of the enlargement and transformation; a dynamic of involution and resistance; the problem of monism, whereby the expanding self is unable adequately to engage with the un-integrated other; and the recent emergence of ‘other Europes’ that may potentially overcome involution. The erosion of the Atlantic system provides an opportunity for delayed institutional and ideational innovation

Maine Voices piece by Dr. Richard C. McFaul, of Cape Elizabeth, a pediatric ca

Maine Voices piece by Dr. Richard C. McFaul, of Cape Elizabeth, a pediatric cardiologist, on the recent do not rescusitate order given by the Lewiston School Board