Effects of canopy architecture and microclimate on grapevine health in two training systems

Semi minimal pruned hedge (SMPH) is a time and cost saving grapevine training system, which is becoming more and more popular in German viticulture. In this study we compared the canopy architecture and its effect on the microclimate of SMPH trained grapevines with those of plants trained in vertical shoot positioning (VSP). We detected a 3 % points higher humidity and a 0.9 °C lower mean temperature within the complex canopy architecture of SMPH trained vines compared to VSP. Moreover, we investigated the influence of the differing microclimate, canopy and bunch architecture, as well as berry skin characteristics of the two training systems on the incidence of the major fungal grapevine diseases Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew and Botrytis Bunch Rot, as well as on the occurrence and damage of the invasive insect pest Drosophila suzukii. We demonstrate that SMPH trained vines can be more susceptible to Downy Mildew and Powdery Mildew than VSP trained vines. The incidence of Botrytis Bunch Rot can be higher in the latter system, even if berry skin characteristics are the same in both training systems. We trapped a higher number of D. suzukii in SMPH canopies, however no increased berry damage was observed. Based on our results we recommend a more adapted plant protection regime for SMPH trained vines due to their higher susceptibility to the major fungal diseases. Furthermore, we propose a combination of SMPH and fungal resistant grapevine cultivars, e.g. 'Reberger', to achieve a more competitive, environmentally friendly and high quality grapevine production

Initial steps for high-throughput phenotyping in vineyards

The evaluation of phenotypic characters of grapevines is required directly in vineyards and is strongly limited by time, costs and the subjectivity of person in charge. Sensor-based techniques are prerequisite in order to allow non-invasive phenotyping of individual plant traits, to increase the quantity of object records and to reduce error variation. Thus, a Prototype-Image-Acquisition-System (PIAS) was developed for semi-automated capture of geo-referenced images in an experimental vineyard. Different strategies were tested for image interpretation using MATLAB®. The interpretation of images from the vineyard with real background is more practice-oriented but requires the calculation of depth maps. Different image analysis tools were verified in order to enable contactless and non-invasive detection of bud burst and quantification of shoots at an early developmental stage (BBCH 10) and enable fast and accurate determination of the grapevine berry size at BBCH 89. Depending on the time of image acquisition at BBCH 10 up to 94 % of green shoots were visible in images. The mean berry size (BBCH 89) was recorded non-invasively with a precision of 1 mm.

Projected impacts of climate change on functional diversity of frugivorous birds along a tropical elevational gradient

Climate change forces many species to move their ranges to higher latitudes or elevations. Resulting immigration or emigration of species might lead to functional changes, e.g., in the trait distribution and composition of ecological assemblages. Here, we combined approaches from biogeography (species distribution models; SDMs) and community ecology (functional diversity) to investigate potential effects of climate-driven range changes on frugivorous bird assemblages along a 3000 m elevational gradient in the tropical Andes. We used SDMs to model current and projected future occurrence probabilities of frugivorous bird species from the lowlands to the tree line. SDM-derived probabilities of occurrence were combined with traits relevant for seed dispersal of fleshy-fruited plants to calculate functional dispersion (FDis; a measure of functional diversity) for current and future bird assemblages. Comparisons of FDis between current and projected future assemblages showed consistent results across four dispersal scenarios, five climate models and two representative concentration pathways. Projections indicated a decrease of FDis in the lowlands, an increase of FDis at lower mid-elevations and little changes at high elevations. This suggests that functional dispersion responds differently to global warming at different elevational levels, likely modifying avian seed dispersal functions and plant regeneration in forest ecosystems along tropical mountains

Nanosized Sodium-Doped Lanthanum Manganites: Role of the Synthetic Route on their Physical Properties

In this paper we present the results of the synthesis and characterisation of nanocrystalline La1-xNaxMnO3+delta samples. Two synthetic routes were employed: polyacrylamide-based sol-gel and propellant synthesis. Pure, single phase materials were obtained with grain size around 35 nm for the sol-gel samples and around 55 nm for the propellant ones, which moreover present a more broaden grain size distribution. For both series a superparamagnetic behaviour was evidenced by means of magnetisation and EPR measurements with peculiar features ascribable to the different grain sizes and morphology. Preliminary magnetoresistivity measurements show enhanced low-field (< 1 T) magnetoresistance values which suggest an interesting applicative use of these manganites.Comment: 31 Pages 10 Figures to appear in Chem. Mate

Nd–Fe–B thick film magnets with Nb additive prepared by vacuum arc deposition method

Isotropic Nd-Fe-B thick film magnets were prepared by a vacuum arc deposition method with the deposition rate of approximately 10 μm/h followed by pulse-annealing process. It was found that an optimum amount of Nb additive is effective to enhance the coercivity without the deterioration of remanence and (BH)max values of the isotropic thick films

Utility of arsenic-treated bird skins for DNA extraction

Background: Natural history museums receive a rapidly growing number of requests for tissue samples from preserved specimens for DNA-based studies. Traditionally, dried vertebrate specimens were treated with arsenic because of its toxicity and insect-repellent effect. Arsenic has negative effects on in vivo DNA repair enzymes and consequently may inhibit PCR performance. In bird collections, foot pad samples are often requested since the feet were not regularly treated with arsenic and because they are assumed to provide substantial amounts of DNA. However, the actual influence of arsenic on DNA analyses has never been tested. Findings: PCR success of both foot pad and body skin samples was significantly lower in arsenic-treated samples. In general, foot pads performed better than body skin samples. Moreover, PCR success depends on collection date in which younger samples yielded better results. While the addition of arsenic solution to the PCR mixture had a clear negative effect on PCR performance after the threshold of 5.4 &#956;g/&#956;l, such high doses of arsenic are highly unlikely to occur in dried zoological specimens. Conclusions: While lower PCR success in older samples might be due to age effects and/or DNA damage through arsenic treatment, our results show no inhibiting effect on DNA polymerase. We assume that DNA degradation proceeds more rapidly in thin tissue layers with low cell numbers that are susceptible to external abiotic influences. In contrast, in thicker parts of a specimen, such as foot pads, the outermost horny skin may act as an additional barrier. Since foot pads often performed better than body skin samples, the intention to preserve morphologically important structures of a specimen still conflicts with the aim to obtain optimal PCR success. Thus, body skin samples from recently collected specimens should be considered as alternative sources of DNA

A survey of transcutaneous blood gas monitoring among European neonatal intensive care units

BACKGROUND: PCO(2 )and PO(2 )are important monitoring parameters in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Compared to conventional blood gas measurements that cause significant blood loss in preterms, transcutaneous (tc) measurements allow continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood gas levels. The aim of the study was to survey the usage and opinions among German speaking NICUs concerning tc blood gas monitoring. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed and sent to 56 head nurses of different NICUs in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. RESULTS: A completely answered questionnaire was obtained from 41 NICUs. In two of these units tc measurements are not performed. In most NICUs (77%), both P(tc)O(2 )and P(tc)CO(2 )are measured simultaneously. Most units change the sensors every 3 hours; however, the recommended temperature of 44°C is used in only 15% of units. In only 8% of units are arterial blood gases obtained to validate tc values. Large variations were found concerning the targeted level of oxygen saturation [median upper limit: 95% (range 80–100%); median lower limit: 86% (range 75–93%)] and PO(2 )[median upper limit: 70 mmHg (range 45–90 mmHg); median lower limit: 44 mmHg (range 30–60 mmHg)]. CONCLUSION: Our survey shows that the use of tc monitors remains widespread among German speaking NICUs, despite earlier data suggesting that their use had been abandoned in many NICUs worldwide. In addition, we suggest that the current method of monitoring oxygenation may not prevent hyperoxemia in preterm infants

Full-wave modeling of broadband near field scanning microwave microscopy

The authors would like to thank professor Dr. Gabriel Gomila from Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC) and Universitat de Barcelona for the fruitful discussion and support, as well as to Dr. Georg Gramse from Johannes Kepler University Linz for the experimental data. B.W. thanks the funding from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for the support of his research at Queen Mary University of London, UK. Y.H. would like to thank EU-FP7 Nanomicrowave project for the financial support