Research Notes : A new gene for peanut mottle virus resistance in soybean

Boerma and Kuhn (1976) established that \u27Dorman\u27 and \u27CNS\u27 each contain a single dominant gene conditioning resistance to peanut mottle virus (PMV). The gene was labelled Rpv, but it was not demonstrated that the genes in the cultivars were allelic. Shipe et al. (1979) also demonstrated the presence of single dominant genes for PMV resistance in each of \u27Arksoy\u27, \u27PI 89784\u27 and \u27PI 219789\u27, but made no tests for allelic relationships

Research Notes : Inheritance of pubescence color and reactions to three viruses in the cross York x Lee 68

Three viruses are prevalent on soybean in the peanut producing counties of Virginia. These are peanut mottle virus (PMV), peanut stunt virus (PSV) and soybean mosaic virus (SMV). Each may cause extensive yield losses among susceptible soybean cultivars under certain conditions

Innovative Rotman lens setup for extended scan range array antennas

The aim of this work is to design a smart and cost effective 24 GHz Short Range Radar (SRR) array antenna system for automotive applications. The beam forming network consists of a hybrid solution including an analog phase shifter, realized with a Rotman lens, and an additional digital phase shifting stage on array side allowing to select between two states, and consequently to enhance the scan angle. This paper will demonstrate that this new concept allows to double the scanning capability of the array with respect to a design employing only the Rotman lens

Compact Extended Scan Range Antenna Array based on Rotman Lens

This article proposes an innovative method for extending the scan range of phased arrays based on Rotman lens by a factor two. The main objective is to take advantage of the performance of the Rotman lens as beamforming network, resolving its intrinsic increase of phase error and coupling losses when wide scan angles are required. The proposed concept aims to overcome these limitations by introducing the combination of two specific operations called “complete beam shifting (CBS)” and “beam mirroring (BM).” The described technique is applied to a 24 GHz scanning array antenna system, designed and manufactured by taking into consideration fabrication and related cost issues. Finally, the proposed concept has been validated through measurements

Psychometric Properties of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Its Short Forms in Adults With Emotional Disorders

Objective: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a widely used self- report measure of subjective emotion ability, as defined by a prominent clinically derived model of emotion regulation (Gratz and Roemer, 2004). Although the DERS is often used in treatment and research settings for adults with emotional (i.e., anxiety, mood, obsessive-compulsive, or trauma-related) disorders, its psychometric properties are not well-characterized in this population. Method: We examined the psychometric properties of the DERS and three popular short forms (DERS-16; DERS-18; and DERS-SF) in a large (N = 427) sample of treatment-seeking adults with one or more DSM-5 emotional disorders. Results: For the original DERS, internal consistency was strong for all subscales except Awareness. A bifactor structure consisting of one general emotion dysregulation factor and five uncorrelated specific factors corresponding to the original DERS subscales (excluding Awareness) provided the best fit. A series of structural equation models (SEMs) demonstrated unique incremental contributions of the general factor and several specific factors to explaining concurrent clinical severity. The general factor and one specific factor (Goals) also prospectively predicted treatment outcome following a naturalistic course of outpatient cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in a subset of participants (n = 202) for whom discharge data were available. Specifically, more severe emotion dysregulation at intake predicted better CBT response, while more severe impairment in goal-directed activity when distressed predicted worse CBT response. All three short forms showed a robust bifactor structure and good internal consistency and convergent validity vis-à-vis the original measure, albeit with a slight decrement in incremental utility (1–3% less variance explained in clinical severity). Conclusion: With the Awareness items excluded, the DERS showed good internal consistency and a robust bifactor latent structure. The general factor and several specific factors incrementally and prospectively predicted clinical severity and treatment outcome, which suggests that the DERS may have clinical and predictive utility in treatment-seeking adults with emotional disorders. Additional research is needed to establish convergent and discriminant validity in this population. The use of a short form in lieu of the full DERS may be sufficient for many general clinical and research purposes, particularly when participant burden is a concern

Research on plant disease and pest management is essential to sustainable agriculture

In the United States, a country with food in great abundance, it is difficult to realize that, were it not for the current level of plant disease and pest management, most human resources would be needed to obtain enough food and other plant and animal products merely to survive. Instead, there are surpluses, markets for many agricultural products are depressed, and funds available for research on plant disease and pest management-and for agricultural research generally-have plateaud or are declining. Why does the United States need more research on plant disease and pest management? Because the health and productivity of the crops and cropping systems upon which the people depend for their own consumption and for export cannot be sustained without continuing research and development. This continued investment is needed to manage ever threatening, changing, and rebounding diseases and pest populations. Moreover, disease and pest management of the future must be improved while simultaneously reducing our dependence on pesticides as one of many steps toward the goal of sustainable agriculture. The goal of plant disease and pest management is to ensure that crops are healthy enough to yield to their full genetic potential within the physical limits imposed by the uncontrolled variables of climate, weather, and soils. Management is defined as limiting damage from diseases or pests to a level at or below an acceptable economic or aesthetic threshold. This process does not require total elimination or eradication of the pest or disease problem. Reducing the use of pesticides is a desirable goal, but it depends on continued and increased investments in research on alternatives. For many chemical pesticides, the alternatives either are not yet developed or are less effective than chemicals. This research must be broadly based across the biological, physical, and social sciences. Moreover, the United States and the world depend not only on sustainable agriculture but also on sustainable growth in agriculture to meet a long-term increase in demand for quality and quantity of agricultural products expected from increases in both numbers and economic status of people (Rutan 1992). Furthermore. these increases must \u27be attained at the same time that available agricultural land is decreasing to satisfy other needs such as more land for recreation and urbanization; restoration of some wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands; and diversions of land from farming to other uses. Improved disease and pest management offers one of the few effective means by which the necessary increases in crop productivity can be accomplished while natural resources, including the remaining forests, are protected. These same principles apply to other uses of plants as well, including as ornamentals, for landscapes, and in parks and golf courses

District Strategic Teaming: Leadership for Systemic and Sustainable Reform

Reform efforts in schools have become increasingly focused on the nature and direction of teamwork in efforts to achieve sustained and systemic districtwide capacity for innovation and needed change. The six-year study reported in this article involved development, implementation, and assessment of a unique collaborative process for districtwide reform in some of the most challenging and fluid educational settings in the United States of America. This reform process, called District Strategic Teaming, involved a representative vertical cross-section of members from the district office to school-based support staff. Participating schools are located in isolated, rural communities in the south-eastern region of the United States of America that experience high rates of teacher turnover and serve student populations living in abject poverty. Despite these challenges, the longitudinal study revealed substantive improvement in organizational culture and reduction of systemic barriers for innovation through the process described in this article

Soybean mosaic virus: A successful potyvirus with a wide distribution but restricted natural host range

Taxonomy. Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is a species within the genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae that includes almost a quarter of all known plant RNA viruses affecting agriculturally important plants. The Potyvirus genus is the largest of all genera of plant RNA viruses with 160 species. Particle. The filamentous particles of SMV, typical of potyviruses, are about 7,500 Å long and 120 Å in diameter with a central hole of about 15 Å in diameter. Coat protein residues are arranged in helice of about 34 Å pitch having slightly less than 9 subunits per turn. Genome. The SMV genome consists of a single-stranded positive-sense polyadenylated RNA of approximately 9.6 kb with a virus-encoded protein (VPg) linked at the 5\u27 terminus. The genomic RNA contains a single large open reading frame (ORF). The polypeptide produced from the large ORF is processed proteolytically by three viral-encoded proteinases to yield about 10 functional proteins. A small ORF, partially overlapping the P3 cistron, pipo, is encoded as a fusion protein in the N-terminus of P3 (P3N+PIPO). Biological properties. SMV’s host range is restricted mostly to two plant species of a single genus; Glycine max (cultivated soybean) and G. soja (wild soybean). SMV is transmitted by aphids non-persistently and by seeds. Variability of SMV is recognized by reactions on cultivars with dominant resistance (R) genes. Recessive resistance genes are not known. Geographical distribution and economic importance. As a consequence of its seed transmissibility, SMV is present in all soybean growing areas of the world. SMV infections can reduce significantly seed quantity and quality (e.g., mottled seed coats, reduced seed size and viability, and altered chemical composition). Control. The most effective means of managing losses from SMV are planting virus-free seeds and cultivars containing single or multiple R genes. Key attractions. The interactions of SMV with soybean genotypes containing different dominant R genes and understanding functional role(s) of SMV-encoded proteins in virulence, transmission and pathogenicity have been intensively investigated. The SMV-soybean pathosystem has become an excellent model for examining the genetics and genomics of uniquely complex gene-for-gene resistance model in a crop of worldwide importance

An overview of the first 5 years of the ENIGMA obsessive–compulsive disorder working group: The power of worldwide collaboration

Abstract Neuroimaging has played an important part in advancing our understanding of the neurobiology of obsessive?compulsive disorder (OCD). At the same time, neuroimaging studies of OCD have had notable limitations, including reliance on relatively small samples. International collaborative efforts to increase statistical power by combining samples from across sites have been bolstered by the ENIGMA consortium; this provides specific technical expertise for conducting multi-site analyses, as well as access to a collaborative community of neuroimaging scientists. In this article, we outline the background to, development of, and initial findings from ENIGMA's OCD working group, which currently consists of 47 samples from 34 institutes in 15 countries on 5 continents, with a total sample of 2,323 OCD patients and 2,325 healthy controls. Initial work has focused on studies of cortical thickness and subcortical volumes, structural connectivity, and brain lateralization in children, adolescents and adults with OCD, also including the study on the commonalities and distinctions across different neurodevelopment disorders. Additional work is ongoing, employing machine learning techniques. Findings to date have contributed to the development of neurobiological models of OCD, have provided an important model of global scientific collaboration, and have had a number of clinical implications. Importantly, our work has shed new light on questions about whether structural and functional alterations found in OCD reflect neurodevelopmental changes, effects of the disease process, or medication impacts. We conclude with a summary of ongoing work by ENIGMA-OCD, and a consideration of future directions for neuroimaging research on OCD within and beyond ENIGMA