Gene Action and Enhanced Progressive Heterosis in Autotetraploid Alfalfa

Two-allele populations (TAPs) of autotelraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were used to evaluate whether progressive heterosis can be enhanced through accumulation of favourable- alleles._ Comparisons involved 4 TAPs per se, and single- and double-crosses produced by hybridising the TAPs, at both the original (OG) and advanced generation (AG) levels. When the different progenies were compared as a percentage of the Vernal check, AG crosses exhibited consistent improvements in breeding value over their OG counterparts and also show enhanced progressive heterosis. These improvements occurred despite higher inbreeding levels (decreased heterozygosity) in the AG progenies and indicate that heterosis can be improved even within relatively narrow genetic backgrounds through the accumulation of favourable alleles

Response to Drought of White Clover Lines Selected for Different Stolon Morphologies

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) lines were selected from within large and small-leaved cultivars of Grasslands Kopu and Grasslands Tahora, respectively, for long or short internodes, and for high or low branching frequency from plants grown in sun and shade (50% full sunlight). Lines were compared for drought tolerance in a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) sward in boxes. Prior to imposing drought branching frequency selections did not differ in branching frequency, although the low branching frequency selection had a higher percentage of rooted nodes. After an imposed drought treatment sun-selected lines grew better than shade-selected lines relative to their non-stressed controls suggesting that white clover selected under full-sun may be more drought-tolerant than lines selected in shade. Selections for different stolon morphologies did not differ in stolon and root growth at the end of the drought

Introduction and Validation of the Juror Decision Scale (JDS): An Empirical Investigation of the Story Model

Purpose: To develop and validate a self-report measure of individual juror decision making within criminal trials, based on theoretical features set out in the Story Model of juror decision making. Methods: The Juror Decision Scale (JDS) and Acceptance of Modern Myths about Sexual Aggression (AMMSA) measure were completed by 324 jury-eligible participants split across 27 jury panels, after observing a rape trial re-enactment high in ecological validity. Dimensionality and construct validity of the JDS was investigated using traditional confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) techniques alongside confirmatory bifactor analysis at two time points (individual juror verdict decisions pre- and post-deliberation). Three competing models of the JDS were specified and tested using Mplus with maximum likelihood robust estimation. Results: Bifactor model with three meaningful factors (complainant believability, defendant believability, decision confidence) was the best fit for the data at both decision points. Good composite reliability and differential predictive validity were observed for the three JDS subscales. Conclusion: Alongside demonstrating its multidimensional conceptualisation, the JDS development permits future empirical testing of the Story Model theoretical assertions surrounding juror decision making. Present findings also provide early evidence of a certainty principle assessment process governing individual verdict decision formation. Theoretical and practical applications are discussed

New Zealand Pastoral Systems: A Current Perspective

New Zealand\u27s diverse grassland resource of 13.5 M ha of permanent pasture, tussock or alpine grasslands underpin an intensive pastoral industry worth NZ$13 billion in 2004. The pastoral industry involves 37,000 farmers and a service industry of about 215,000 persons. It produces 27 M prime export lambs and 180,000 t of predominantly crossbred wool from 40 M ewes; 13 B litres of milk from 5.2 M dairy cattle; 800,000 t of beef from 4.7 M beef cattle and 33,000 t of venison from 2 M deer. Pastures and forage crops, mostly non- irrigated, are grazed \u27in situ\u27 by animals through controlled grazing management. The emphasis is on optimising utilisation at each grazing without penalising feed intake, pasture regrowth or persistance. Stocking rate and feed budgeting, along with a flexible stock trading policy are used to match animal demands with seasonal fluctuations in forage supply. The timing and duration of mating are varied to match anticipated seasonal growth. In dairy farming more condensed calving patterns have assisted in extending lactation length

Facets of Psychopathy in Relation to Trauma-Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Symptomology in a Sample of Incarcerated Male Offenders

Purpose: The aim was to investigate the moderating role of psychopathy facets on the relationship between traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology. Design/methodology/approach: Participants were male prisoners incarcerated in the U.K. Findings: The analysis revealed differential associations between the two facets of psychopathy, with potentially traumatic events and symptoms of PTSD. Specifically, neither primary psychopathy nor trauma exposure were significantly related to PTSD, while secondary psychopathy was positively and significantly related with PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, the effect of trauma exposure on PTSD was found to depend on the level of secondary psychopathy. More specifically, trauma exposure was strongly and positively associated with PTSD symptoms for low levels of secondary psychopathy and negatively associated with PTSD symptomology for individuals with high levels of secondary psychopathy. Originality/value: The findings clarify linkages among psychopathy facets, trauma, and PTSD, and extend our understanding of the presentation of PTSD in male prisoners

GGE Biplot Analysis of Forage Yield Performance and Stability Assessment of Tall Fescue Experimental Populations Selected Under Grazing Pressure in a Stress Environment

Integrating the yield and stability of genotypes selected under grazing pressure is an important objective in breeding forage crops. Genotype × environment (G x E) interaction is a major source of inconsistency in crop performance across locations. As a result, a genotype is considered stable if it has a low contribution to the G x E interaction. This study explores the effects of G x E interaction on yield and stability of 10 tall fescue experimental populations selected for persistence under grazing pressure outside the area of adaptation of the species (stress environment). Six standard checks were included. The populations were tested in a randomized complete block design with 5 replications in 9 environments. The pooled analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant (p \u3c 0.01) variations between populations, locations, years, and G × E interaction. The first two principal components generated by the GGE biplot accounted for 46.78% and 28.45% variation in GGE for yield. The locations (Athens and Blairsville) were found to be the most significant causes of yield variation. The GGE biplot revealed three winning populations GALA1301 (ga1), GALA1302 (ga2), and GALA1306 (ga6) in terms of yield across environments. These populations performed better than all the checks. GALA1502T (g2t) was the most stable and GALA1502A(g2a), GALA1301(ga1), and GALA1303(ga3) are both comparatively stable and high yield performers. Comparison of the two populations g2t and g2a that were selected from the same base population but in different environments (g2t selected for persistence at Tifton under grazing pressure and g2a selected for yield without grazing in Athens) showed that g2t was the most stable across environments but lower in yield than g2a. Our results suggest that selection under grazing pressure in stress environments could result in improved stability across environments while yield performance will still depend on the genetic background of the germplasm

The Hunt for the “Holy Grail”: Condensed Tannins in Perennial Forage Legumes

A recent advance using molecular biology has identified a transcription factor or master switch that can ‘turn on’ the condensed tannin pathway present in white clover, and with the appropriate promoters allows biologically significant levels of condensed tannin expression in leaf tissue. In vitro tests have demonstrated that the condensed tannins produced in white clover leaves can bind protein at a pH 6.5, as found in the rumen, and then release them at pH 2.5, the pH in the abomasum, before entering the small intestine for amino acid absorption. Additional tests have demonstrated that these condensed tannins can reduce methane production by up to 25% in the first 6 hours of incubation. The journey to this point and the challenges ahead to deliver white clover cultivars with condensed tannin expression will be described

High Floral Tannin White Clover Reduces Rumen Ammonia Concentrations in Dairy Cows

White clover produces high quality forage for ruminant production, but it results in high rumen ammonia concentrations, indicating extensive protein degradation. The excess ammonia is absorbed through the rumen and excreted as urea in urine, at a cost to the animal and the environment. Condensed tannins (CT) contained in some forages reduce proteolysis in the rumen, which can lead to increased amino acid absorption and therefore improved animal performance. White clover produces CT in its flower heads, but concentrations are normally too low to benefit animals. This paper reports on comparisons of rumen ammonia concentrations in dairy cows grazing HT (high tannin) white clover (an experimental line of white clover with increased flowering) or Grasslands Huia white clover

Condensed Tannin Concentration and Herbage Accumulation of a White Clover Bred for Increased Floral Condensed Tannin

White clover is a high quality feed for ruminants, however, its high protein content results in excessive urea excretion in urine and can cause bloat, reducing its potential value for animal production. The condensed tannins (CT) in some forages can reduce these problems, but plants may have poor agronomic performance. White clover produces CT in its flower heads, but herbage CT concentrations are normally too low to benefit animals. This paper reports CT concentrations and herbage accumulation over 2 years of an experimental line of white clover (HT) selected for increased flowering and floral CT concentrations

The origin of Jupiter's outer radiation belt

The intense inner radiation belt at Jupiter (>50 MeV at 1.5 RJ) is generally accepted to be created by radial diffusion of electrons from further away from the planet. However, this requires a source with energies that exceed 1 MeV outside the orbit of the moon Io at 5.9 RJ, which has never been explained satisfactorily. Here we test the hypothesis that this source population could be formed from a very soft energy spectrum, by particle injection processes and resonant electron acceleration via whistler mode chorus waves. We use the British Antarctic Survey Radiation Belt Model to calculate the change in the electron flux between 6.5 and 15 RJ; these are the first simulations at Jupiter combining wave particle interactions and radial diffusion. The resulting electron flux at 100 keV and 1 MeV lies very close to the Galileo Interim Radiation Electron model spectrum after 1 and 10 days, respectively. The primary driver for the increase in the flux is cyclotron resonant acceleration by chorus waves. A peak in phase space density forms such that inside L≈9 radial diffusion transports electrons toward Jupiter, but outside L≈9 radial diffusion acts away from the planet. The results are insensitive to the softness of the initial energy spectrum but do depend on the value of the flux at the minimum energy boundary. We conclude by suggesting that the source population for the inner radiation belt at Jupiter could indeed be formed by wave-particle interactions