Four New Vining Species of Solanum (Dulcamaroid Clade) from Montane Habitats in Tropical America

Background: Solanum (Solanaceae), with approximately 1500 species, is one of the largest genera of flowering plants, and has a centre of diversity in the New World tropics. The genus is divided into 13 major clades, of which two, the Dulcamaroid clade and the ‘‘African Non-Spiny’ ’ clade, exhibit vine morphology with twining petioles. I am currently preparing a worldwide monograph of these two groups, comprising some 70 species. Methods: I formally describe here four new species of Solanum from montane Mexico and South America all belonging to the Dulcamaroid clade (including the traditionally recognised section Jasminosolanum Bitter). Descriptions, discussions of closely related species and preliminary conservation assessments are provided for all species; all species are illustrated. This paper is also a test case for the electronic publication of new names in flowering plants. Conclusions: These new species are all relatively rare, but not currently of conservation concern. Solanum aspersum sp. nov

Heritabilität und Korrelationen von Morphologischen Eigenschaften bei Winterweizen-Sorten unter Bio-Bedingungen

Die untersuchten morphologischen Merkmale weisen insgesamt eine niedrigere Heritabilität und eine geringe Korrelation mit Kornertrag auf. Dies weist darauf hin, dass sich diese Merkmale nur bedingt als Selektionsmerkmal und zur Sortenbeschreibung eignen. Aber auch wenn nur ein geringer positiver Zusammenhang mit dem Kornertrag erkennbar ist, kann sich z.B. ein höherer Bodenbedeckungsgrad auf lange Frist die Menge der Unkrautsamen im Boden verringern. Der positive Zusammenhang von Pflanzenhöhe und Ertrag ist teilweise durch eine bessere Gesundheit hoher Pflanzen zu erklären

HLA-DM Stabilizes the Empty MHCII Binding Groove:A Model Using Customized Natural Move Monte Carlo

MHC class II molecules bind peptides derived from extracellular proteins that have been ingested by antigen-presenting cells and display them to the immune system. Peptide loading occurs within the antigen-presenting cell and is facilitated by HLA-DM. HLA-DM stabilises the open conformation of the MHCII binding groove when no peptide is bound. While a structure of the MHCII/HLA-DM complex exists, the mechanism of stabilisation is still largely unknown. Here, we applied customised Natural Move Monte Carlo to investigate this interaction. We found a possible long range mechanism that implicates the configuration of the membrane-proximal globular domains in stabilising the open state of the empty MHCII binding groove

Process for Converting Serial Image to the Sterolithography Apparatus (SLA) Slice File with Automatic Base and Support Generation

Method and apparatus for converting a series of serial section images of an object into a three-dimensional model. The method includes acquiring and storing the series of serial section images, converting, zooming, and interpolating serial section images. The method further includes discriminating the series of serial section images to form a binary image, which is then compressed, and filtered. Further, support data for floating or cantilevered portions of the object and base data are generated, the filtered binary image is translated to produce a plurality of vectors representing pixels of the object, and a three-dimensional model of the object is produced from the plurality of vectors representing pixels of the object, the support data, and the base data

Untersuchungen zu Konkurrenzeigenschaften von Winterweizensorten

Um die Konkurrenzeigenschaften von Winterweizen zu untersuchen, wurden in Feldversuchen (2 Jahre x 2 Orte) 9 Sorten unter 5 unterschiedlichen Konkurrenzsystemen angebaut: übliche und halbe Saatdichte, 50:50 Sortenmischung mit der roten Weizensorte Rosso und zwei verschiedenen Untersaaten als Modellunkräuter (Weidelgras und Wicke). Als Zielmerkmale wurde der Kornertrag erhoben, und intensive Erhebungen zur Bestandesarchitektur durchgeführt. Der Konkurrenzeffekt auf die rote Weizensorte war stark korreliert mit dem Konkurrenzeffekt auf Weidelgras und Wicke. Die Mischung mit der roten Sorte und anschließender Einzelkorn-Sortierung eignet sich somit als Screening-System zur Unkrautunterdrückung. Der negative Zusammenhang zwischen dem Konkurrenzeffekt und der Reaktion auf erhöhte Saatdichte deutet auf einen Zielkonflikt zwischen Konkurrenzstärke und Ertragsperformance in einem reinen dichten Pflanzenbestand. Dieser Konflikt muss in der Züchtung beachtet werden. Während die Bestandeshöhe keine eindeutige Erklärung des Konkurrenzeffekts zeigte, zeigte die Länge des Fahnenblatts starke Korrelation

Tris(β‐ketoiminate) Aluminium(III) Compounds as Aluminium Oxide Precursors

Precursor design is the crucial step in tailoring the deposition profile towards a multitude of functional materials. Most commercially available aluminium oxide precursors require high processing temperatures (>500 °C). Herein, we report the tuning of the decomposition profile (200–350 °C) of a range of octahedrally coordinated tris(β-ketoiminate) aluminium complexes of the type [Al(MeCN(R)CHC=OMe)3], by varying the R substituents in the ligands. The complexes are derived from the reaction of trimethylamine alane (TMAA) and a series of N-substituted β-ketoiminate ligands (R-acnacH, R=Me, Et, iPr, Ph) with varying R-substituents sizes. When the more sterically encumbered ligand (R=Mes) was used, the Al atom became five-coordinate, therefore representing the threshold to octahedral coordination around the metal in these type of compounds, which, consequently, lead to a change of decomposition profile. The resulting compounds have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. [Al(MeCN(Me)CHC=OMe)3] has been used as a single source precursor for the deposition of Al2O3. Thin films were deposited via aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD), with toluene as the solvent, and were analysed using SEM, EDX and XPS

Organic cropping systems maintain yields but have lower yield levels and yield stability than conventional systems – Results from the DOK trial in Switzerland

Sufficient and stable crop yields are the basis for feeding a growing world population. Limited cropland, climate change, degradation of soil quality and loss of biodiversity coupled with excessive use of non-renewable resources require new solutions for future cropping systems beyond existing management practices. Here we analyzed mean yields, temporal yield trends and the stability of organic and conventional cropping systems from the currently longest-lasting cropping system comparison, the DOK long-term systems comparison trial (DOK) comparing biodynamic, bioorganic and conventional cropping systems, over a period of 40 years. We used yield data of winter wheat, potatoes, grass-clover, maize and soybean in a seven-year rotation, where bioorganic and biodynamic farming systems were compared with conventional mixed and sole mineral fertilized systems. System treatments have been established at a reduced half and a regular fertilization level, which corresponds to standard Swiss farming practices. Yields were significantly lower in organic systems in non-legumes between 13% and 34%, depending on the investigated crop, whereas in legumes, no yield reduction was observed in soybean and only 10% was observed in grass-clover. Half the amount of fertilizer reduced yields by around 10% in all systems and crops. Applied mineral N determined yields mainly in winter wheat and potatoes. Temporal yield trends did not differ between organic and conventional systems, nor between half and regular fertilization over all crops. However, in winter wheat, both conventional and biodynamic management with regular fertilization showed a stronger temporal increase in yield, while yield of grass-clover under biodynamic management with half-fertilization decreased. Increased yield differences between systems in single years were due to poor performance of organic systems rather than better performance of conventional systems. Absolute stability (measured by the variance) did not differ, but conventional systems were more stable than organic ones in relative stability, measured by the coefficient of variation, expressing the stability in relation to the yield level. We found no difference in both absolute and relative stabilities between half and regular fertilization. Long-term organic management results in lower yields than conventional management, but not in a decrease of yields over time. The similarity in both stability measures between half and regular fertilization suggests that the variation in relative stability between organic and conventional management might be more related to plant protection than to fertilization intensity

Natural selection towards wild-type in composite cross populations of winter wheat

Most of our crops are grown in monoculture with single genotypes grown over wide acreage. An alternative approach, where segregating populations are used as crops, is an exciting possibility, but outcomes of natural selection upon this type of crop are not well understood. We tracked allelic frequency changes in evolving composite cross populations of wheat grown over ten generations under organic and conventional farming. At three generations, each population was genotyped with 19 SSR and 8 SNP markers. The latter were diagnostic for major functional genes. Gene diversity was constant at SSR markers but decreased over time for SNP markers. Population differentiation between the four locations could not be detected, suggesting that organic vs. non-organic crop management did not drive allele frequency changes. However, we did see changes for genes controlling plant height and phenology in all populations independently and consistently. We interpret these changes as the result of a consistent natural selection towards wild-type. Independent selection for alleles that are associated with plant height suggests that competition for light was central, resulting in the predominance of stronger intraspecific competitors, and highlighting a potential trade-off between individual and population performanc

The Multifunctional Challenge Of Future Agriculture – Answers From 40 Years Dok Research

"Achieving sufficient and stable crop yields with limited cropland and without excessive use of non-renewable resources under a changing climate are the multifunctional challenges of future agriculture. We compared the performance and sustainability of organic and conventional cropping systems in the DOK long-term systems comparison after 40 years of management. For the first time we present a comprehensive evaluation of the whole DOK design including the systems with reduced stocking rates. Yield, nutrient dynamic and soil quality evaluations show clearly the trade-offs between productivity and sustainability in organic as well as in conventional systems. Low input conventional systems reveal the best input-output performance but lowered soil quality; regular organic systems were most sustainable but achieved only moderate non-legume yields.

Unraveling the Steric Link to Copper Precursor Decomposition: A Multi-Faceted Study for the Printing of Flexible Electronics

The field of printed electronics strives for lower processing temperatures to move toward flexible substrates that have vast potential: from wearable medical devices to animal tagging. Typically, ink formulations are optimized using mass screening and elimination of failures; as such, there are no comprehensive studies on the fundamental chemistry at play. Herein, findings which describe the steric link to decomposition profile: combining density functional theory, crystallography, thermal decomposition, mass spectrometry, and inkjet printing, are reported. Through the reaction of copper(II) formate with excess alkanolamines of varying steric bulk, tris-co-ordinated copper precursor ions: "[CuL3 ]," each with a formate counter-ion (1-3) are isolated and their thermal decomposition mass spectrometry profiles are collected to assess their suitability for use in inks (I1-3 ). Spin coating and inkjet printing of I1,2 provides an easily up-scalable method toward the deposition of highly conductive copper device interconnects (ρ = 4.7-5.3 × 10-7 Ω m; ≈30% bulk) onto paper and polyimide substrates and forms functioning circuits that can power light-emitting diodes. The connection among ligand bulk, coordination number, and improved decomposition profile supports fundamental understanding which will direct future design