5,162 research outputs found
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Effects of plant pathogens on population dynamics and community composition in grassland ecosystems: two case studies
Grassland ecosystems comprise a major portion of the earth’s terrestrial surface, ranging from high-input cultivated monocultures or simple species mixtures to relatively unmanaged but dynamic systems. Plant pathogens are a component of these systems with their impact dependent on many interacting factors, including grassland species population dynamics and community composition, the topics covered in this paper. Plant pathogens are affected by these interactions and also act reciprocally by modifying their nature. We review these features of disease in grasslands and then introduce the 150-year long-term Park Grass Experiment (PGE) at Rothamsted Research in the UK. We then consider in detail two plant-pathogen systems present in the PGE, Tragopogon pratensis-Puccinia hysterium and Holcus lanata-Puccinia coronata. These two systems have very different life history characteristics: the first, a biennial member of the Asteraceae infected by its host-specific, systemic rust; the second, a perennial grass infected by a host-non-specific rust. We illustrate how observational, experimental and modelling studies can contribute to a better understanding of population dynamics, competitive interactions and evolutionary outcomes. With Tragopogon pratensis-Puccinia hysterium, characterised as an “outbreak” species in the PGE, we show that pathogen-induced mortality is unlikely to be involved in host population regulation; and that the presence of even a short-lived seed-bank can affect the qualitative outcomes of the host-pathogen dynamics. With Holcus lanata-Puccinia coronata, we show how nutrient conditions can affect adaptation in terms of host defence mechanisms, and that co-existence of competing species affected by a common generalist pathogen is unlikely
Suppression of Zeeman gradients by nuclear polarization in double quantum dots
We use electric dipole spin resonance to measure dynamic nuclear polarization
in InAs nanowire quantum dots. The resonance shifts in frequency when the
system transitions between metastable high and low current states, indicating
the presence of nuclear polarization. We propose that the low and the high
current states correspond to different total Zeeman energy gradients between
the two quantum dots. In the low current state, dynamic nuclear polarization
efficiently compensates the Zeeman gradient due to the -factor mismatch,
resulting in a suppressed total Zeeman gradient. We present a theoretical model
of electron-nuclear feedback that demonstrates a fixed point in nuclear
polarization for nearly equal Zeeman splittings in the two dots and predicts a
narrowed hyperfine gradient distribution
Marked TGF-β-regulated miRNA expression changes in both COPD and control lung fibroblasts
© 2019, The Author(s). COPD is associated with disturbed tissue repair, possibly due to TGF-β-regulated miRNA changes in fibroblasts. Our aim was to identify TGF-β-regulated miRNAs and their differential regulation and expression in COPD compared to control fibroblasts. Small RNA sequencing was performed on TGF-β-stimulated and unstimulated lung fibroblasts from 15 COPD patients and 15 controls. Linear regression was used to identify TGF-β-regulated and COPD-associated miRNAs. Interaction analysis was performed to compare miRNAs that responded differently to TGF-β in COPD and control. Re-analysis of previously generated Ago2-IP data and Enrichr were used to identify presence and function of potential target genes in the miRNA-targetome of lung fibroblasts. In total, 46 TGF-β-regulated miRNAs were identified in COPD and 86 in control fibroblasts (FDR < 0.05). MiR-27a-5p was the most significantly upregulated miRNA. MiR-148b-3p, miR-589-5p and miR-376b-3p responded differently to TGF-β in COPD compared to control (FDR < 0.25). MiR-660-5p was significantly upregulated in COPD compared to control (FDR < 0.05). Several predicted targets of miR-27a-5p, miR-148b-3p and miR-660-5p were present in the miRNA-targetome, and were mainly involved in the regulation of gene transcription. In conclusion, altered TGF-β-induced miRNA regulation and differential expression of miR-660-5p in COPD fibroblasts, may represent one of the mechanisms underlying aberrant tissue repair and remodelling in COPD
Rigorous investigation of the reduced density matrix for the ideal Bose gas in harmonic traps by a loop-gas-like approach
In this paper, we rigorously investigate the reduced density matrix (RDM)
associated to the ideal Bose gas in harmonic traps. We present a method based
on a sum-decomposition of the RDM allowing to treat not only the isotropic
trap, but also general anisotropic traps. When focusing on the isotropic trap,
the method is analogous to the loop-gas approach developed by W.J. Mullin in
[38]. Turning to the case of anisotropic traps, we examine the RDM for some
anisotropic trap models corresponding to some quasi-1D and quasi-2D regimes.
For such models, we bring out an additional contribution in the local density
of particles which arises from the mesoscopic loops. The close connection with
the occurrence of generalized-BEC is discussed. Our loop-gas-like approach
provides relevant information which can help guide numerical investigations on
highly anisotropic systems based on the Path Integral Monte Carlo (PIMC)
method.Comment: v3: Minor modifications of v2. v2: Major modifications: the former
version (v1) has been completely rewritten. New results concerning the
anisotropic traps and generalized Bose-Einstein condensation have been added.
The connection with the loop-gas approach is further discussed. 40 page
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Evolutionary bi-stability in pathogen transmission mode
Many pathogens transmit to new hosts by both infection (horizontal transmission) and transfer to the
infected host's offspring (vertical transmission). These two transmission modes require speci®c adap-
tations of the pathogen that can be mutually exclusive, resulting in a trade-off between horizontal and
vertical transmission. We show that in mathematical models such trade-offs can lead to the simultaneous
existence of two evolutionary stable states (evolutionary bi-stability) of allocation of resources to the two
modes of transmission. We also show that jumping between evolutionary stable states can be induced by
gradual environmental changes. Using quantitative PCR-based estimates of abundance in seed and vege-
tative parts, we show that the pathogen of wheat, Phaeosphaeria nodorum, has jumped between two
distinct states of transmission mode twice in the past 160 years, which, based on published evidence,
we interpret as adaptation to environmental change. The ®nding of evolutionary bi-stability has impli-
cations for human, animal and other plant diseases. An ill-judged change in a disease control
programme could cause the pathogen to evolve a new, and possibly more damaging, combination of
transmission modes. Similarly, environmental changes can shift the balance between transmission
modes, with adverse effects on human, animal and plant health
Frequency metrology on the 4s 2S1/2 - 4p 2P1/2 transition in the calcium ion for a comparison with quasar data
High accuracy frequency metrology on the 4s 2S1/2 - 4p 2P1/2 transition in
calcium ions is performed using laser cooled and crystallized ions in a linear
Paul trap. Calibration is performed with a frequency comb laser, resulting in a
transition frequency of f=755222766.2(1.7) MHz. The accuracy presents an
improvement of more than one order of magnitude, and will facilitate a
comparison with quasar data in a search for a possible change of the fine
structure constant on a cosmological time scale.Comment: Corrected typos (including one on the axis of figure 6
On-line Excited-State Laser Spectroscopy of Trapped Short-Lived Ra Ions
As an important step towards an atomic parity violation experiment in one
single trapped Ra ion, laser spectroscopy experiments were performed with
on-line produced short-lived Ra ions. The isotope shift of
the 6\,^2D\,-\,7\,^2P and
6\,^2D\,-\,7\,^2P transitions and the hyperfine structure
constant of the 7\,^2S and 6\,^2D states in Ra
were measured. These values provide a benchmark for the required atomic theory.
A lower limit of ms for the lifetime of the metastable
6\,^2D state was measured by optical shelving.Comment: 4.2 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables
Drifting snow measurements on the Greenland Ice Sheet and their application for model evaluation
This paper presents autonomous drifting snow observations performed on the
Greenland Ice Sheet in the fall of 2012. High-frequency snow particle counter
(SPC) observations at ~ 1 m above the surface provided drifting snow
number fluxes and size distributions; these were combined with meteorological
observations at six levels. We identify two types of drifting snow events:
katabatic events are relatively cold and dry, with prevalent winds from the
southeast, whereas synoptic events are short lived, warm and wet.
Precipitating snow during synoptic events disturbs the drifting snow
measurements. Output of the regional atmospheric climate model RACMO2, which
includes the drifting snow routine PIEKTUK-B, agrees well with the observed
near-surface climate at the site, as well as with the frequency and timing of
drifting snow events. Direct comparisons with the SPC observations at 1 m
reveal that the model overestimates the horizontal snow transport at this
level, which can be related to an overestimation of saltation and the typical
size of drifting snow particles
The added value of daily diary data in 1- and 3-year prediction of psychopathology and psychotic experiences in individuals at risk for psychosis
This study aimed to assess whether adding information on psychological experiences derived from a daily diary to baseline cross-sectional data could improve short- (1-year) and long-term (3-years) prediction of psychopathology and positive psychotic experiences (PEs). We used 90-day daily diary data from 96 individuals in early subclinical risk stages for psychosis. Stepwise linear regression models were built for psychopathology and PEs at 1- and 3-years follow-up, adding: (1) baseline questionnaires, (2) the mean and variance of daily psychological experiences, and (3) individual symptom network density. We assessed whether similar results could be achieved with a subset of the data (7-14- and 30-days). The mean and variance of the diary improved model prediction of short- and long-term psychopathology and PEs, compared to prediction based on baseline questionnaires solely. Similar results were achieved with 7-14- and 30-day subsets. Symptom network density did not improve model prediction except for short-term prediction of PEs. Simple metrics, i.e., the mean and variance from 7 to 14 days of daily psychological experiences assessments, can improve short- and long-term prediction of both psychopathology and PEs in individuals in early subclinical stages for psychosis. Diary data could be a valuable addition to clinical risk prediction models for psychopathology development.</p
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