Plants, as sessile organisms, need to sense and adapt to heterogeneous environments and have developed sophisticated responses by changing their cellular physiology, gene regulation, and genome stability. Recent work ...Plants, as sessile organisms, need to sense and adapt to heterogeneous environments and have developed sophisticated responses by changing their cellular physiology, gene regulation, and genome stability. Recent work dem- onstrated heritable stress effects on the control of genome stability in plants--a phenomenon that was suggested to be of epigenetic nature. Here, we show that temperature and UV-B stress cause immediate and heritable changes in the epi- genetic control of a silent reporter gene in Arabidopsis. This stress-mediated release of gene silencing correlated with pronounced alterations in histone occupancy and in histone H3 acetylation but did not involve adjustments in DNA meth- ylation. We observed transmission of stress effects on reporter gene silencing to non-stressed progeny, but this effect was restricted to areas consisting of a small number of cells and limited to a few non-stressed progeny generations. Further- more, stress-induced release of gene silencing was antagonized and reset during seed aging. The transient nature of this phenomenon highlights the ability of plants to restrict stress-induced relaxation of epigenetic control mechanisms, which likely contributes to safeguarding genome integrity.展开更多
The phytohormone auxin is essential for plant development and contributes to nearly every aspect of the plant life cycle. The spatio-temporal distribution of auxin depends on a complex interplay between auxin metaboli...The phytohormone auxin is essential for plant development and contributes to nearly every aspect of the plant life cycle. The spatio-temporal distribution of auxin depends on a complex interplay between auxin metabolism and cell-to-cell auxin transport. Auxin metabolism and transport are both crucial for plant development; however, it largely remains to be seen how these processes are integrated to ensure defined cellular auxin levels or even gradients within tissues or organs. In this review, we provide a glance at very diverse topics of auxin biology, such as biosynthesis, conjugation, oxidation, and transport of auxin. This broad, but certainly superficial, overview highlights the mutual importance of auxin metabolism and transport. Moreover, it allows pinpointing how auxin metabolism and transport get integrated to jointly regulate cellular auxin homeostasis. Even though these processes have been so far only separately studied, we assume that the phytohormonal crosstalk integrates and coordinates auxin metabolism and transport. Besides the integrative power of the global hormone signaling, we additionally introduce the hypothetical concept considering auxin transport components as gatekeepers for auxin responses.展开更多
Being sessile organisms, plants evolved an unparalleled plasticity in their post-embryonic development, allowing them to adapt and fine-tune their vital parameters to an ever-changing environment. Cross-talk between p...Being sessile organisms, plants evolved an unparalleled plasticity in their post-embryonic development, allowing them to adapt and fine-tune their vital parameters to an ever-changing environment. Cross-talk between plants and their environment requires tight regulation of information exchange at the plasma membrane （PM）. Plasma membrane proteins mediate such communication, by sensing variations in nutrient availability, external cues as well as by controlled solute transport across the membrane border. Localiza-tion and steady-state levels are essential for PM protein function and ongoing research identified cis- and trans-acting determinants, involved in control of plant PM protein localization and turnover. In this overview, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of plant PM protein sorting and degradation via ubiquitylation, a post-translational and reversible modification of proteins. We highlight characterized components of the machinery involved in sorting of ubiquitylated PM proteins and discuss consequences of protein ubiquitylation on fate of selected PM proteins. Specifically, we focus on the role of ubiquitylation and PM protein degradation in the regulation of polar auxin transport （PAT）. We combine this regulatory circuit with further aspects of PM protein sorting control, to address the interplay of events that might control PAT and polarized growth in higher plants.展开更多
The aim of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the infiltration capability and rate of microleakage of a low-viscous resin infiltrant combined with a flowable composite resin(RI/CR) when used with deproteinised and etc...The aim of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the infiltration capability and rate of microleakage of a low-viscous resin infiltrant combined with a flowable composite resin(RI/CR) when used with deproteinised and etched occlusal subsurface lesions(International Caries Detection and Assessment System code 2). This combined treatment procedure was compared with the exclusive use of flowable composite resin(CR) for fissure sealing. Twenty premolars and 20 molars revealing non-cavitated occlusal carious lesions were randomly divided into two groups and were meticulously cleaned and deproteinised using Na OCl(2%). After etching with HCl(15%), 10 premolar and 10 molar lesions were infiltrated(Icon/DMG; rhodamine B isothiocyanate(RITC)-labelled) followed by fissure sealing(G-?nial Flo/GC; experimental group, RI/CR). In the control group(CR), the carious fissures were only sealed. Specimens were cut perpendicular to the occlusal surface and through the area of the highest demineralisation(DIAGNOdent pen, Ka Vo). Using confocal laser-scanning microscopy, the specimens were assessed with regard to the percentage of caries infiltration, marginal adaption and internal integrity. Within the CR group, the carious lesions were not infiltrated. Both premolar(57.9% ± 23.1%) and molar lesions(35.3% ± 22.1%) of the RI/CR group were uniformly infiltrated to a substantial extent, albeit with significant differences(P = 0.034). Moreover, microleakage(n = 1) and the occurrence of voids(n = 2) were reduced in the RI/CR group compared with the CR group(5 and 17 specimens,respectively). The RI/CR approach increases the initial quality of fissure sealing and is recommended for the clinical control of occlusal caries.展开更多
The collapse of adobe bricks under compressive forces and exposure to water has a duration of several minutes, with only minor displacements before and after the collapse, whence a conceptual question arises: When doe...The collapse of adobe bricks under compressive forces and exposure to water has a duration of several minutes, with only minor displacements before and after the collapse, whence a conceptual question arises: When does the collapse start and when does it end? The paper compares several mathematical models for the description of the fracture process from displacement data. It recommends the use of linear splines to identify the beginning and end of the collapse phase of adobe bricks.展开更多
The regulation of cellular growth is of vital importance for embryonic and postembryonic patterning. Growth regulation in the epidermis has importance for organ growth rates in roots and shoots, proposing epidermal ce...The regulation of cellular growth is of vital importance for embryonic and postembryonic patterning. Growth regulation in the epidermis has importance for organ growth rates in roots and shoots, proposing epidermal cells as an interesting model for cellular growth regulation. Here we assessed whether the root epidermis is a suitable model system to address cell size determination. In Arabidopsis thaliana L., root epidermal cells are regularly spaced in neighbouring tricho-（root hair） and atrichoblast （non-hair） cells, showing already distinct cell size regulation in the root meristem. We determined cell sizes in the root meristem and at the onset of cellular elongation, revealing that not only division rates but also cellular shape is distinct in tricho-and atrichoblasts. Intriguingly, epidermal-patterning mutants, failing to define differential vacuolization in neighbouring epidermal cell files, also display non-differential growth. Using these epidermal-patterning mutants, we show that polarized growth behaviour of epidermal tricho-and atrichoblast is interdependent, suggesting non-cell autonomous signals to integrate tissue expansion. Besides the interweaved cell-type-dependent growth mechanism, we reveal an additional role for epidermal patterning genes in root meristem size and organ growth regulation. We conclude that epidermal cells represent a suitable model system to study cell size determination and interdependent tissue growth.展开更多
Public governance and civil society play an important role in the preservation of the environmental and cultural values of the specific region of Tusheti. This area is an interesting study object also due to its uniqu...Public governance and civil society play an important role in the preservation of the environmental and cultural values of the specific region of Tusheti. This area is an interesting study object also due to its unique governing model and different management issues including the historical background of the region and the current growth of tourism. In the region, where there is a significant number of initiatives supported by donors, a management plan for the protected landscape was prepared and put into practice and selected measures were implemented. Our evaluation of the activities was focused on relevance, efficiency, effectiveness,impacts and sustainability of outcomes. On the basis of the formulated conclusions, a few recommendations related to process and system nature, implementation and replicability of approaches are suggested. The results show an increase in tourism in the region,which leads to an improvement in the quality of life of the local population. On the other hand, it represents a threat to natural and cultural values, historical identity and uniqueness. The Management Plan is an excellent platform for stakeholder cooperation and implementation of specific measures to protect this exceptional territory.展开更多
RNA sequencing(RNA-seq) has greatly facilitated the exploring of transcriptome landscape for diverse organisms.However,transcriptome reconstruction is still challenging due to various limitations of current tools and ...RNA sequencing(RNA-seq) has greatly facilitated the exploring of transcriptome landscape for diverse organisms.However,transcriptome reconstruction is still challenging due to various limitations of current tools and sequencing technologies.Here,we introduce an efficient tool,QuaPra(Quadratic Programming combined with Apriori),for accurate transcriptome assembly and quantification.QuaPra could detect at least 26.5% more low abundance(0.1–1 FPKM) transcripts with over 2.7% increase of sensitivity and precision on simulated data compared to other currently popular tools.Moreover,around one-quarter more known transcripts were correctly assembled by QuaPra than other assemblers on real sequencing data.QuaPra is freely available at http://www.megabionet.org/QuaPra/.展开更多
Soil water sensors are commonly used to monitor water content and matric potential in order to study hydrological processes such as evaporation. Finding a proper sensor is sometimes difficult, especially for measureme...Soil water sensors are commonly used to monitor water content and matric potential in order to study hydrological processes such as evaporation. Finding a proper sensor is sometimes difficult, especially for measurements in topsoil, where changes of temperature and soil water dynamics occur generally with greater intensity compared to deeper soil layers. We assessed the perfor-mance of Hydra Probe water content sensors and MPS-1 matric potential sensors in topsoil in the laboratory and in the field. A common soil-specific calibration function was determined for the Hydra Probes. Measurement accuracy and sensor-to-sensor variation were within the manufacturer specification of ±0.03 m3·m-3. Hydra Probes can operate from dry to saturated conditions. Sensor-specific calibrations from a previous study were used to reduce sensor-to-sensor variation of MPS-1. Measurement accuracy can be expressed by a mean relative error of 10%. According to the manufacturer, the application range of matric potential readings is from -10 kPa to -500 kPa. MPS-1 delivered also values beyond this range, but they were not reliable. Sensor electronics of the MPS-1 were sensitive to ambient temperature changes. Beyond instrument effects, field measurements showed substantial temperature-driven fluctuations of soil water content and matric potential, which complicated data interpretation.展开更多
Due to the elevated ecological awareness nowadays the consumption of products of organic agriculture is increasing. Organic farming means excluding the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pestic...Due to the elevated ecological awareness nowadays the consumption of products of organic agriculture is increasing. Organic farming means excluding the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides or genetically modified organisms, but there are only a few regulations regarding heavy metal concentrations in soils. Thus a not negligible uptake of metals from the soil where the apple trees are grown may occur. Furthermore inorganic copper compounds being traditional fertilizers for apple trees are not considered as synthetic fertilizers, thus they are still used in organic apple farming for soil or foliar application. Thus also apples produced by organic agriculture may contain toxic elements, such as cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead. The concentrations of these elements were determined in whole apples, as well as in the flesh and peel in order to estimate the possible risk for human health. Prior to analysis using ICP-AES samples underwent a microwave assisted digestion. The LODs obtained are below the recommended maximum levels in vegetables/fruits by WHO. In all samples no Cu, Cr, and Pb could be detected. Only Ca was found in the peel of about a third of samples investigated in concentrations between LOD and LOQ （1-3 μg/g）.展开更多
This study provides estimates of smallholder household＇s production efficiency and its determinants, and separately analyses the technical efficiency of dairy technology adopting and non-adopting farmers using data f...This study provides estimates of smallholder household＇s production efficiency and its determinants, and separately analyses the technical efficiency of dairy technology adopting and non-adopting farmers using data from Ethiopia. Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function was modeled in the context of local level agricultural innovation systems framework and estimated using 2011 milk production data on 304 dairy farmers. Results show that the mean level of technical efficiency among the sampled farmers was about 26%. This result suggests that there is room for significant increases of production through reallocation of existing resources. Despite significant variation among farmers, these results also indicate only 19% of farmers have mean efficiency scores （_〉 50%）, implying a need to focus on creating innovation capacity that pushes the production frontier outward in the dairy production system. It is also revealed that individual farm households＇ efficiency varied widely across dairy technology adoption status, gender and districts. The significant gamma （g） statistic, of 0.9985 in the analysis indicates that about 99.85% variation in the output of milk production would be attributed to technical inefficiency effects （those under farmer＇s control） while only 0.0015% would be due to random effects, i.e., beyond the farmers control and hence calling for a focus on efficiency enhancing investments. Education, farm size, extension visit and off-farm income opportunity were found to be efficiency enhancing. The study recommends that different components of an agricultural innovation system have to interact to improve the innovation capacity of different actors and thereby improve the estimated technical inefficiencies.展开更多
The Bertalanffy-Pütter (BP) five-parameter growth model provides a versatile framework for the modeling of growth. Using data from a growth experiment in literature about the average size-at-age of 24 species of ...The Bertalanffy-Pütter (BP) five-parameter growth model provides a versatile framework for the modeling of growth. Using data from a growth experiment in literature about the average size-at-age of 24 species of tropical trees over ten years in the same area, we identified their best-fit BP-model parameters. While different species had different best-fit exponent-pairs, there was a model with a good fit to 21 (87.5%) of the data </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">“Good fit” means a </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">normalized root-mean-squared-error <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">NRMSE</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i> below 2.5%. This threshold was the 95% quantile of the lognormal distribution that was fitted to the <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">NRMSE</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i> values for the best-fit models for the data)</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In view of the sigmoidal character of this model despite the early stand we discuss </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">whether </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the setting of the growth experiment may have impeded growth.展开更多
Intracellular protein routing is mediated by vesicular transport which is tightly regulated in eukaryotes. The protein and lipid homeostasis depends on coordinated delivery of de novo synthesized or recycled cargoes t...Intracellular protein routing is mediated by vesicular transport which is tightly regulated in eukaryotes. The protein and lipid homeostasis depends on coordinated delivery of de novo synthesized or recycled cargoes to the plasma membrane by exocytosis and their subsequent removal by rerouting them for recycling or degradation. Here, we report the characterization of protein affected trafficking 3 （pat3） mutant that we identified by an epifluorescence-based for- ward genetic screen for mutants defective in subcellular distribution of Arabidopsis auxin transporter PIN1-GFR While pat3 displays largely normal plant morphology and development in nutrient-rich conditions, it shows strong ectopic intracellular accumulations of different plasma membrane cargoes in structures that resemble prevacuolar compart- ments （PVC） with an aberrant morphology. Genetic mapping revealed that pat3 is defective in vacuolar protein sorting 35A （VPS35A）, a putative subunit of the retromer complex that mediates retrograde trafficking between the PVC and trans-Golgi network. Similarly, a mutant defective in another retromer subunit, vps29, shows comparable subcellular defects in PVC morphology and protein accumulation. Thus, our data provide evidence that the retromer components VPS35A and VPS29 are essential for normal PVC morphology and normal trafficking of plasma membrane proteins in plants. In addition, we show that, out of the three VPS35 retromer subunits present in Arabidopsis thaliana genome, the VPS35 homolog A plays a prevailing role in trafficking to the lyric vacuole, presenting another level of complexity in the retromer-dependent vacuolar sorting.展开更多
Anthropogenic disturbances influence plant regeneration and species diversity, which impact the conservation status of protected areas. A study was conducted in the Sitakund Botanical Garden and Eco-park （SBGE）, Chi...Anthropogenic disturbances influence plant regeneration and species diversity, which impact the conservation status of protected areas. A study was conducted in the Sitakund Botanical Garden and Eco-park （SBGE）, Chittagong, Bangladesh to analyze the natural regeneration and tree species diversity in disturbed and less disturbed zones. Stratified and systematic random sampling was used to select 50 sample plots from each of the two zones. A total number of 109 plant species from 43 families were recorded in the study; of which 93 species were of natural origin while the rest were planted. From the species with natural origin 66 were tree species, 9 were shrub species and 28 were climbers. Species richness, density of regeneration and disturbance index in the height classes （0- 0.5 m） and {dbh 〉 6 cm） indicated significant differences between the zones. The study analyzed how disturbances affect species diversity in the area. It was found that species richness and basal area are negatively related with disturbances. Moreover, density （N/ha） of trees was more likely to decrease with increasing tree height that reflects the huge demand of local people to harvest large trees as part of their income generating activities. The study findings have implications for future managementdecisions of the SGBE. To restore these ecosystems, management should focus on both biodiversity eonservation and providing benefits to local people without hampering forest ecosystems.展开更多
The organic food market has become an important part of food industry. We analyze sales data from Austria for 2014 to 2020 of 124 products from 25 product groups in six categories, each in conventional and organic for...The organic food market has become an important part of food industry. We analyze sales data from Austria for 2014 to 2020 of 124 products from 25 product groups in six categories, each in conventional and organic form. We fitted their market shares by means of a modified Lotka-Volterra model with constant coefficients. When only organic and conventional products were compared, a significant increase in market shares was observed for 15 of 25 organic product groups, indicating a continuing growth of the organic food market. The typical Lotka-Volterra dynamics was a predator-prey dynamics with an organic product (group) predating on conventional products that were in symbiosis.展开更多
Zeolitites (ZTs) are rocks containing more than 50% of zeolite minerals and are known to be a suitable material for agricultural purposes by improving soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. H...Zeolitites (ZTs) are rocks containing more than 50% of zeolite minerals and are known to be a suitable material for agricultural purposes by improving soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. However, little is known about their effects on soil microbial biomass. This study aimed to evaluate short-term effects of different chabazite-rich ZT (CHAZT) amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. A silty-clay agricultural soil was amended in three different ways, including the addition of natural (5% and 15%) and NH_4^+-enriched (10%) CHAZT. Soil dissolved organic carbon (C), total dissolved N, NH_4^+, NO_3^-, NO_2^-, microbial biomass C and N, and ergosterol were measured periodically over 16 d in a laboratory incubation. To verify the microbial immobilization of the N derived from NH_4^+-enriched CHAZT, a high15N source was used for enriching the mineral to measure the microbial biomass δ15N signature. An increase in the ergosterol content was observed in the soil amended with 5% natural CHAZT. However, no similar result was observed in the soil amended with 15% natural CHAZT, suggesting that the fungal biomass was favored at a lower CHAZT application rate. In the soil amended with NH+ 4-enriched CHAZT, microbial biomass N was related to NO_3^-production over time and inversely related to NH_4^+, suggesting high nitrification process. Isotopic measurements on microbial biomass confirmed immediate assimilation of N derived from NH_4^+-enriched CHAZT. These results suggested that the NH_4^+-enriched CHAZT used in this study supplied an immediately available N pool to the microbial biomass.展开更多
All ceiis show some degree of poiarity, either by asymmetrically distributed membrane or cytosolic components. Even in bacterial cells that do not have the eukaryotic membrane compartmentalization of the cytoplasm, pr...All ceiis show some degree of poiarity, either by asymmetrically distributed membrane or cytosolic components. Even in bacterial cells that do not have the eukaryotic membrane compartmentalization of the cytoplasm, proteins can be localized at specific areas. In rod-shaped bacteria, many processes such as signaling, flagella formation, and DNA uptake occur at the cell poles. In addition,展开更多
Hydrological models within inflow forecasting systems for high-alpine hydropower reservoirs can provide valuable information as part of a decision support system for the improvement of hydropower production or flood r...Hydrological models within inflow forecasting systems for high-alpine hydropower reservoirs can provide valuable information as part of a decision support system for the improvement of hydropower production or flood retention. The information, especially concerning runoff, is however rarely available for the calibration of the hydrological models used. Therefore, a method is presented to derive local runoff from secondary information for the calibration of the model parameters of the rainfallrunoff model COSERO. Changes in water levels in reservoirs, reservoir outflows, discharge measurements at water intakes and in transport lines are thereby used to derive the local, "natural" flow for a given sub-catchment. The proposed method is applied within a research study for the ?BB Infrastructure Railsystem division in the Stubache catchment in the central Austrian Alps. Here, the ?BB operates the hydropower scheme "Kraftwerksgruppe Stubachtal", which consists of 7 reservoirs and 4 hydropower stations. The hydrological model has been set up considering this human influences and the high natural heterogeneity in topography and land cover, including glaciers. Overall, the hydrological model performs mostly well for the catchment with highest NSE values of 0.78 for the calibration and0.79 for the validation period, also considering the use of homogeneous parameter fields and the uncertainty of the derived local discharge values. The derived runoff data proved to be useful information for the model calibration. Further analysis, examining the water balance and its components as well as snow cover, showed satisfactory simulation results. In conclusion, a unique runoff dataset for a small scale high-alpine catchment has been created to establish a hydrological flow prediction model which in a further step can be used for improved and sustainable hydropower management.展开更多
Embedded in an INTERREG IVc project called Flexible Transport Services （FTS） and Information and Communication Technology （ICT） platform for Eco-Mobility in urban and rural European areas （acronym： FLIPPER）, th...Embedded in an INTERREG IVc project called Flexible Transport Services （FTS） and Information and Communication Technology （ICT） platform for Eco-Mobility in urban and rural European areas （acronym： FLIPPER）, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, analysed impacts of Flexible Transport Services focusing on Demand Responsive Public Transport （DRT）. This includes the analysis of site characteristics, the existing mobility demand, accessibility, area needs, current environmental impact, operational, financial and organisational constraints; designing of the service and definition of the supporting organisational measures required. Examples of realised services in Alpine areas in Austria confirm the effects on people＇s daily mobility and all its consequences towards society and environment. Main effects are the decrease of public funding needs and ensuring a basic transport supply even in rural areas. Additionally, there is a strong component of social inclusion in this service, increasing the quality of life capable to contribute to the deceleration of the out migration. As secondary effects, economic effects and environmental effects can be observed. The potential of these services are not fully utilised today and can be achieved through further extensions of service area as well as technical developments.展开更多
Food sustainability transitions refer to transformation processes necessary to move towards sustainable food systems.Digitization is one of the most important ongoing transformation processes in global agriculture and...Food sustainability transitions refer to transformation processes necessary to move towards sustainable food systems.Digitization is one of the most important ongoing transformation processes in global agriculture and food chains.The review paper explores the contribution of information and communication technologies(ICTs)to transition towards sustainability along the food chain(production,processing,distribution,consumption).A particular attention is devoted to precision agriculture as a food production model that integrates many ICTs.ICTs can contribute to agro-food sustainability transition by increasing resource productivity,reducing inefficiencies,decreasing management costs,and improving food chain coordination.The paper also explores some drawbacks of ICTs as well as the factors limiting their uptake in agriculture.展开更多
文摘Plants, as sessile organisms, need to sense and adapt to heterogeneous environments and have developed sophisticated responses by changing their cellular physiology, gene regulation, and genome stability. Recent work dem- onstrated heritable stress effects on the control of genome stability in plants--a phenomenon that was suggested to be of epigenetic nature. Here, we show that temperature and UV-B stress cause immediate and heritable changes in the epi- genetic control of a silent reporter gene in Arabidopsis. This stress-mediated release of gene silencing correlated with pronounced alterations in histone occupancy and in histone H3 acetylation but did not involve adjustments in DNA meth- ylation. We observed transmission of stress effects on reporter gene silencing to non-stressed progeny, but this effect was restricted to areas consisting of a small number of cells and limited to a few non-stressed progeny generations. Further- more, stress-induced release of gene silencing was antagonized and reset during seed aging. The transient nature of this phenomenon highlights the ability of plants to restrict stress-induced relaxation of epigenetic control mechanisms, which likely contributes to safeguarding genome integrity.
文摘The phytohormone auxin is essential for plant development and contributes to nearly every aspect of the plant life cycle. The spatio-temporal distribution of auxin depends on a complex interplay between auxin metabolism and cell-to-cell auxin transport. Auxin metabolism and transport are both crucial for plant development; however, it largely remains to be seen how these processes are integrated to ensure defined cellular auxin levels or even gradients within tissues or organs. In this review, we provide a glance at very diverse topics of auxin biology, such as biosynthesis, conjugation, oxidation, and transport of auxin. This broad, but certainly superficial, overview highlights the mutual importance of auxin metabolism and transport. Moreover, it allows pinpointing how auxin metabolism and transport get integrated to jointly regulate cellular auxin homeostasis. Even though these processes have been so far only separately studied, we assume that the phytohormonal crosstalk integrates and coordinates auxin metabolism and transport. Besides the integrative power of the global hormone signaling, we additionally introduce the hypothetical concept considering auxin transport components as gatekeepers for auxin responses.
基金B.K. is supported by the Hertha Firnberg program from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, T477)Work in the lab of C.L. is supported by FWF grants P19585 and P25931
文摘Being sessile organisms, plants evolved an unparalleled plasticity in their post-embryonic development, allowing them to adapt and fine-tune their vital parameters to an ever-changing environment. Cross-talk between plants and their environment requires tight regulation of information exchange at the plasma membrane （PM）. Plasma membrane proteins mediate such communication, by sensing variations in nutrient availability, external cues as well as by controlled solute transport across the membrane border. Localiza-tion and steady-state levels are essential for PM protein function and ongoing research identified cis- and trans-acting determinants, involved in control of plant PM protein localization and turnover. In this overview, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of plant PM protein sorting and degradation via ubiquitylation, a post-translational and reversible modification of proteins. We highlight characterized components of the machinery involved in sorting of ubiquitylated PM proteins and discuss consequences of protein ubiquitylation on fate of selected PM proteins. Specifically, we focus on the role of ubiquitylation and PM protein degradation in the regulation of polar auxin transport （PAT）. We combine this regulatory circuit with further aspects of PM protein sorting control, to address the interplay of events that might control PAT and polarized growth in higher plants.
文摘The aim of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the infiltration capability and rate of microleakage of a low-viscous resin infiltrant combined with a flowable composite resin(RI/CR) when used with deproteinised and etched occlusal subsurface lesions(International Caries Detection and Assessment System code 2). This combined treatment procedure was compared with the exclusive use of flowable composite resin(CR) for fissure sealing. Twenty premolars and 20 molars revealing non-cavitated occlusal carious lesions were randomly divided into two groups and were meticulously cleaned and deproteinised using Na OCl(2%). After etching with HCl(15%), 10 premolar and 10 molar lesions were infiltrated(Icon/DMG; rhodamine B isothiocyanate(RITC)-labelled) followed by fissure sealing(G-?nial Flo/GC; experimental group, RI/CR). In the control group(CR), the carious fissures were only sealed. Specimens were cut perpendicular to the occlusal surface and through the area of the highest demineralisation(DIAGNOdent pen, Ka Vo). Using confocal laser-scanning microscopy, the specimens were assessed with regard to the percentage of caries infiltration, marginal adaption and internal integrity. Within the CR group, the carious lesions were not infiltrated. Both premolar(57.9% ± 23.1%) and molar lesions(35.3% ± 22.1%) of the RI/CR group were uniformly infiltrated to a substantial extent, albeit with significant differences(P = 0.034). Moreover, microleakage(n = 1) and the occurrence of voids(n = 2) were reduced in the RI/CR group compared with the CR group(5 and 17 specimens,respectively). The RI/CR approach increases the initial quality of fissure sealing and is recommended for the clinical control of occlusal caries.
文摘The collapse of adobe bricks under compressive forces and exposure to water has a duration of several minutes, with only minor displacements before and after the collapse, whence a conceptual question arises: When does the collapse start and when does it end? The paper compares several mathematical models for the description of the fracture process from displacement data. It recommends the use of linear splines to identify the beginning and end of the collapse phase of adobe bricks.
基金supported by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) (to J.K.‐V.)the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (personal postdoctoral research grant to C.L.)
文摘The regulation of cellular growth is of vital importance for embryonic and postembryonic patterning. Growth regulation in the epidermis has importance for organ growth rates in roots and shoots, proposing epidermal cells as an interesting model for cellular growth regulation. Here we assessed whether the root epidermis is a suitable model system to address cell size determination. In Arabidopsis thaliana L., root epidermal cells are regularly spaced in neighbouring tricho-（root hair） and atrichoblast （non-hair） cells, showing already distinct cell size regulation in the root meristem. We determined cell sizes in the root meristem and at the onset of cellular elongation, revealing that not only division rates but also cellular shape is distinct in tricho-and atrichoblasts. Intriguingly, epidermal-patterning mutants, failing to define differential vacuolization in neighbouring epidermal cell files, also display non-differential growth. Using these epidermal-patterning mutants, we show that polarized growth behaviour of epidermal tricho-and atrichoblast is interdependent, suggesting non-cell autonomous signals to integrate tissue expansion. Besides the interweaved cell-type-dependent growth mechanism, we reveal an additional role for epidermal patterning genes in root meristem size and organ growth regulation. We conclude that epidermal cells represent a suitable model system to study cell size determination and interdependent tissue growth.
基金This study was supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechia.
文摘Public governance and civil society play an important role in the preservation of the environmental and cultural values of the specific region of Tusheti. This area is an interesting study object also due to its unique governing model and different management issues including the historical background of the region and the current growth of tourism. In the region, where there is a significant number of initiatives supported by donors, a management plan for the protected landscape was prepared and put into practice and selected measures were implemented. Our evaluation of the activities was focused on relevance, efficiency, effectiveness,impacts and sustainability of outcomes. On the basis of the formulated conclusions, a few recommendations related to process and system nature, implementation and replicability of approaches are suggested. The results show an increase in tourism in the region,which leads to an improvement in the quality of life of the local population. On the other hand, it represents a threat to natural and cultural values, historical identity and uniqueness. The Management Plan is an excellent platform for stakeholder cooperation and implementation of specific measures to protect this exceptional territory.
基金supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China(2015AA020108)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFC0902100)+2 种基金the China Human Proteome Project(2014DFB30010,2014DFB30030)the National Science Foundation of China(31671377,31401133,31771460,91629103)the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities of China(B14019)
文摘RNA sequencing(RNA-seq) has greatly facilitated the exploring of transcriptome landscape for diverse organisms.However,transcriptome reconstruction is still challenging due to various limitations of current tools and sequencing technologies.Here,we introduce an efficient tool,QuaPra(Quadratic Programming combined with Apriori),for accurate transcriptome assembly and quantification.QuaPra could detect at least 26.5% more low abundance(0.1–1 FPKM) transcripts with over 2.7% increase of sensitivity and precision on simulated data compared to other currently popular tools.Moreover,around one-quarter more known transcripts were correctly assembled by QuaPra than other assemblers on real sequencing data.QuaPra is freely available at http://www.megabionet.org/QuaPra/.
文摘Soil water sensors are commonly used to monitor water content and matric potential in order to study hydrological processes such as evaporation. Finding a proper sensor is sometimes difficult, especially for measurements in topsoil, where changes of temperature and soil water dynamics occur generally with greater intensity compared to deeper soil layers. We assessed the perfor-mance of Hydra Probe water content sensors and MPS-1 matric potential sensors in topsoil in the laboratory and in the field. A common soil-specific calibration function was determined for the Hydra Probes. Measurement accuracy and sensor-to-sensor variation were within the manufacturer specification of ±0.03 m3·m-3. Hydra Probes can operate from dry to saturated conditions. Sensor-specific calibrations from a previous study were used to reduce sensor-to-sensor variation of MPS-1. Measurement accuracy can be expressed by a mean relative error of 10%. According to the manufacturer, the application range of matric potential readings is from -10 kPa to -500 kPa. MPS-1 delivered also values beyond this range, but they were not reliable. Sensor electronics of the MPS-1 were sensitive to ambient temperature changes. Beyond instrument effects, field measurements showed substantial temperature-driven fluctuations of soil water content and matric potential, which complicated data interpretation.
文摘Due to the elevated ecological awareness nowadays the consumption of products of organic agriculture is increasing. Organic farming means excluding the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides or genetically modified organisms, but there are only a few regulations regarding heavy metal concentrations in soils. Thus a not negligible uptake of metals from the soil where the apple trees are grown may occur. Furthermore inorganic copper compounds being traditional fertilizers for apple trees are not considered as synthetic fertilizers, thus they are still used in organic apple farming for soil or foliar application. Thus also apples produced by organic agriculture may contain toxic elements, such as cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead. The concentrations of these elements were determined in whole apples, as well as in the flesh and peel in order to estimate the possible risk for human health. Prior to analysis using ICP-AES samples underwent a microwave assisted digestion. The LODs obtained are below the recommended maximum levels in vegetables/fruits by WHO. In all samples no Cu, Cr, and Pb could be detected. Only Ca was found in the peel of about a third of samples investigated in concentrations between LOD and LOQ （1-3 μg/g）.
文摘This study provides estimates of smallholder household＇s production efficiency and its determinants, and separately analyses the technical efficiency of dairy technology adopting and non-adopting farmers using data from Ethiopia. Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function was modeled in the context of local level agricultural innovation systems framework and estimated using 2011 milk production data on 304 dairy farmers. Results show that the mean level of technical efficiency among the sampled farmers was about 26%. This result suggests that there is room for significant increases of production through reallocation of existing resources. Despite significant variation among farmers, these results also indicate only 19% of farmers have mean efficiency scores （_〉 50%）, implying a need to focus on creating innovation capacity that pushes the production frontier outward in the dairy production system. It is also revealed that individual farm households＇ efficiency varied widely across dairy technology adoption status, gender and districts. The significant gamma （g） statistic, of 0.9985 in the analysis indicates that about 99.85% variation in the output of milk production would be attributed to technical inefficiency effects （those under farmer＇s control） while only 0.0015% would be due to random effects, i.e., beyond the farmers control and hence calling for a focus on efficiency enhancing investments. Education, farm size, extension visit and off-farm income opportunity were found to be efficiency enhancing. The study recommends that different components of an agricultural innovation system have to interact to improve the innovation capacity of different actors and thereby improve the estimated technical inefficiencies.
文摘The Bertalanffy-Pütter (BP) five-parameter growth model provides a versatile framework for the modeling of growth. Using data from a growth experiment in literature about the average size-at-age of 24 species of tropical trees over ten years in the same area, we identified their best-fit BP-model parameters. While different species had different best-fit exponent-pairs, there was a model with a good fit to 21 (87.5%) of the data </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">“Good fit” means a </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">normalized root-mean-squared-error <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">NRMSE</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i> below 2.5%. This threshold was the 95% quantile of the lognormal distribution that was fitted to the <i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">NRMSE</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i> values for the best-fit models for the data)</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> In view of the sigmoidal character of this model despite the early stand we discuss </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">whether </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the setting of the growth experiment may have impeded growth.
文摘Intracellular protein routing is mediated by vesicular transport which is tightly regulated in eukaryotes. The protein and lipid homeostasis depends on coordinated delivery of de novo synthesized or recycled cargoes to the plasma membrane by exocytosis and their subsequent removal by rerouting them for recycling or degradation. Here, we report the characterization of protein affected trafficking 3 （pat3） mutant that we identified by an epifluorescence-based for- ward genetic screen for mutants defective in subcellular distribution of Arabidopsis auxin transporter PIN1-GFR While pat3 displays largely normal plant morphology and development in nutrient-rich conditions, it shows strong ectopic intracellular accumulations of different plasma membrane cargoes in structures that resemble prevacuolar compart- ments （PVC） with an aberrant morphology. Genetic mapping revealed that pat3 is defective in vacuolar protein sorting 35A （VPS35A）, a putative subunit of the retromer complex that mediates retrograde trafficking between the PVC and trans-Golgi network. Similarly, a mutant defective in another retromer subunit, vps29, shows comparable subcellular defects in PVC morphology and protein accumulation. Thus, our data provide evidence that the retromer components VPS35A and VPS29 are essential for normal PVC morphology and normal trafficking of plasma membrane proteins in plants. In addition, we show that, out of the three VPS35 retromer subunits present in Arabidopsis thaliana genome, the VPS35 homolog A plays a prevailing role in trafficking to the lyric vacuole, presenting another level of complexity in the retromer-dependent vacuolar sorting.
基金supported by the OG (sterreichische Orient-Gesellschaft Hammer Purgstall) Vienna, Austria
文摘Anthropogenic disturbances influence plant regeneration and species diversity, which impact the conservation status of protected areas. A study was conducted in the Sitakund Botanical Garden and Eco-park （SBGE）, Chittagong, Bangladesh to analyze the natural regeneration and tree species diversity in disturbed and less disturbed zones. Stratified and systematic random sampling was used to select 50 sample plots from each of the two zones. A total number of 109 plant species from 43 families were recorded in the study; of which 93 species were of natural origin while the rest were planted. From the species with natural origin 66 were tree species, 9 were shrub species and 28 were climbers. Species richness, density of regeneration and disturbance index in the height classes （0- 0.5 m） and {dbh 〉 6 cm） indicated significant differences between the zones. The study analyzed how disturbances affect species diversity in the area. It was found that species richness and basal area are negatively related with disturbances. Moreover, density （N/ha） of trees was more likely to decrease with increasing tree height that reflects the huge demand of local people to harvest large trees as part of their income generating activities. The study findings have implications for future managementdecisions of the SGBE. To restore these ecosystems, management should focus on both biodiversity eonservation and providing benefits to local people without hampering forest ecosystems.
文摘The organic food market has become an important part of food industry. We analyze sales data from Austria for 2014 to 2020 of 124 products from 25 product groups in six categories, each in conventional and organic form. We fitted their market shares by means of a modified Lotka-Volterra model with constant coefficients. When only organic and conventional products were compared, a significant increase in market shares was observed for 15 of 25 organic product groups, indicating a continuing growth of the organic food market. The typical Lotka-Volterra dynamics was a predator-prey dynamics with an organic product (group) predating on conventional products that were in symbiosis.
基金co-funded by the EU-funded Zeo LIFE project, European Union (No. LIFE10 ENV/IT/000321)UNIFE young researchers grant 2015+1 种基金the EU-funded Eclaire project, European Union (No. FP7-Env.2011.1.1.2-1 282910)project Nitro Austria, Austrian Climate Research Programme (No. KR14AC7K11916)
文摘Zeolitites (ZTs) are rocks containing more than 50% of zeolite minerals and are known to be a suitable material for agricultural purposes by improving soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. However, little is known about their effects on soil microbial biomass. This study aimed to evaluate short-term effects of different chabazite-rich ZT (CHAZT) amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. A silty-clay agricultural soil was amended in three different ways, including the addition of natural (5% and 15%) and NH_4^+-enriched (10%) CHAZT. Soil dissolved organic carbon (C), total dissolved N, NH_4^+, NO_3^-, NO_2^-, microbial biomass C and N, and ergosterol were measured periodically over 16 d in a laboratory incubation. To verify the microbial immobilization of the N derived from NH_4^+-enriched CHAZT, a high15N source was used for enriching the mineral to measure the microbial biomass δ15N signature. An increase in the ergosterol content was observed in the soil amended with 5% natural CHAZT. However, no similar result was observed in the soil amended with 15% natural CHAZT, suggesting that the fungal biomass was favored at a lower CHAZT application rate. In the soil amended with NH+ 4-enriched CHAZT, microbial biomass N was related to NO_3^-production over time and inversely related to NH_4^+, suggesting high nitrification process. Isotopic measurements on microbial biomass confirmed immediate assimilation of N derived from NH_4^+-enriched CHAZT. These results suggested that the NH_4^+-enriched CHAZT used in this study supplied an immediately available N pool to the microbial biomass.
文摘All ceiis show some degree of poiarity, either by asymmetrically distributed membrane or cytosolic components. Even in bacterial cells that do not have the eukaryotic membrane compartmentalization of the cytoplasm, proteins can be localized at specific areas. In rod-shaped bacteria, many processes such as signaling, flagella formation, and DNA uptake occur at the cell poles. In addition,
基金This study was funded by the OBB Infrastructure.
文摘Hydrological models within inflow forecasting systems for high-alpine hydropower reservoirs can provide valuable information as part of a decision support system for the improvement of hydropower production or flood retention. The information, especially concerning runoff, is however rarely available for the calibration of the hydrological models used. Therefore, a method is presented to derive local runoff from secondary information for the calibration of the model parameters of the rainfallrunoff model COSERO. Changes in water levels in reservoirs, reservoir outflows, discharge measurements at water intakes and in transport lines are thereby used to derive the local, "natural" flow for a given sub-catchment. The proposed method is applied within a research study for the ?BB Infrastructure Railsystem division in the Stubache catchment in the central Austrian Alps. Here, the ?BB operates the hydropower scheme "Kraftwerksgruppe Stubachtal", which consists of 7 reservoirs and 4 hydropower stations. The hydrological model has been set up considering this human influences and the high natural heterogeneity in topography and land cover, including glaciers. Overall, the hydrological model performs mostly well for the catchment with highest NSE values of 0.78 for the calibration and0.79 for the validation period, also considering the use of homogeneous parameter fields and the uncertainty of the derived local discharge values. The derived runoff data proved to be useful information for the model calibration. Further analysis, examining the water balance and its components as well as snow cover, showed satisfactory simulation results. In conclusion, a unique runoff dataset for a small scale high-alpine catchment has been created to establish a hydrological flow prediction model which in a further step can be used for improved and sustainable hydropower management.
文摘Embedded in an INTERREG IVc project called Flexible Transport Services （FTS） and Information and Communication Technology （ICT） platform for Eco-Mobility in urban and rural European areas （acronym： FLIPPER）, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, analysed impacts of Flexible Transport Services focusing on Demand Responsive Public Transport （DRT）. This includes the analysis of site characteristics, the existing mobility demand, accessibility, area needs, current environmental impact, operational, financial and organisational constraints; designing of the service and definition of the supporting organisational measures required. Examples of realised services in Alpine areas in Austria confirm the effects on people＇s daily mobility and all its consequences towards society and environment. Main effects are the decrease of public funding needs and ensuring a basic transport supply even in rural areas. Additionally, there is a strong component of social inclusion in this service, increasing the quality of life capable to contribute to the deceleration of the out migration. As secondary effects, economic effects and environmental effects can be observed. The potential of these services are not fully utilised today and can be achieved through further extensions of service area as well as technical developments.
文摘Food sustainability transitions refer to transformation processes necessary to move towards sustainable food systems.Digitization is one of the most important ongoing transformation processes in global agriculture and food chains.The review paper explores the contribution of information and communication technologies(ICTs)to transition towards sustainability along the food chain(production,processing,distribution,consumption).A particular attention is devoted to precision agriculture as a food production model that integrates many ICTs.ICTs can contribute to agro-food sustainability transition by increasing resource productivity,reducing inefficiencies,decreasing management costs,and improving food chain coordination.The paper also explores some drawbacks of ICTs as well as the factors limiting their uptake in agriculture.
