scholarly journals No evidence for differential biomass and mineral content in adult plants grown from dimorphic seeds of Suaeda aralocaspica

Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Chang-Yan Tian ◽  
Zhen-Ying Huang

Producing two or more types of seeds by a single plant is known as seed heteromorphism. Comparison of seed traits or growth between plants grown from heteromorphic seeds has received considerable attention. However, information is scarce regarding the comparison of mineral content of adult plants from heteromorphic seeds. Here we present biomass and mineral profiles (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Chloride) of adult plants grown from dimorphic seeds (non-dormant brown seeds and black seeds with non-deep physiological dormancy) of annual desert halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica at different levels of nutrient and salinity. The results showed that, although nutrient and salinity could affect dry weigh and mineral content, seed-dimorphic plants of S. aralocaspica did not show significant difference under the same experimental conditions. This study is one of the few to compare the physiological responses between seed-heteromorphic plants and suggests that mineral status is exactly consistent with growth performance for these plants.

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Chang-Yan Tian ◽  
Zhen-Ying Huang

Producing two or more types of seeds by a single plant is known as seed heteromorphism. Comparison of seed traits or growth between plants grown from heteromorphic seeds has received considerable attention. However, information is scarce regarding the comparison of mineral content of adult plants from heteromorphic seeds. Here we present biomass and mineral profiles (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Chloride) of adult plants grown from dimorphic seeds (non-dormant brown seeds and black seeds with non-deep physiological dormancy) of annual desert halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica at different levels of nutrient and salinity. The results showed that, although nutrient and salinity could affect dry weigh and mineral content, seed-dimorphic plants of S. aralocaspica did not show significant difference under the same experimental conditions. This study is one of the few to compare the physiological responses between seed-heteromorphic plants and suggests that mineral status is exactly consistent with growth performance for these plants.


1969 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. K. Pande ◽  
Panjab Singh

SummaryLimited moisture supply caused reduction in leaf area, number of effective tillers, ratio of sound to unsound grains and the nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and manganese content of rice. Crop yield was adversely affected in the absence of standing water. Two levels of nitrogen (40 and 60 kg.N/ha.) caused no significant difference in yield in 1965, but in 1966, when 30 and 60 kg. N/ha. were used, the latter gave better yields.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Jiang ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Carol C. Baskin ◽  
Changyan Tian ◽  
Zhenying Huang

AbstractMaternal effects on offspring seeds are mainly caused by seed position on, and the abiotic environment of, the mother plant. Seed heteromorphism, a special form of position effect, is the production by an individual plant of morphologically distinct seed types, usually with different ecological behaviours. Seed heteromorphism is assumed to be a form of bet hedging and provides an ideal biological model to test theoretical predictions. Most studies of maternal effects on seeds have focused on abiotic environmental factors and changes in mean seed traits of offspring. Suaeda salsa is an annual halophyte that produces dimorphic seeds within the same inflorescence. We tested the hypothesis that plants grown from brown seeds of S. salsa have a higher offspring brown seed:black seed morph ratio and variance in seed size than plants from black seeds. Results from a pot experiment showed that plants grown from brown seeds had a higher brown seed:black seed ratio than plants grown from black seeds. This is the first layer of dynamic bet hedging. Brown seeds had higher size variation than black seeds, and seeds produced by plants from brown seeds also had higher seed size variation than plants grown from black seeds. This is the second layer of dynamic bet hedging. Thus, the maternal effect of seed heteromorphism is dual dynamic bet hedging. Furthermore, for seed traits we verified for the first time the theoretical prediction that an increase in offspring size variability induces an increase in the mean size of offspring.


1967 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kent ◽  
J. Belzer ◽  
M. Kuhfeerst ◽  
E. D. Dym ◽  
D. L. Shirey ◽  
...  

An experiment is described which attempts to derive quantitative indicators regarding the potential relevance predictability of the intermediate stimuli used to represent documents in information retrieval systems. In effect, since the decision to peruse an entire document is often predicated upon the examination of one »level of processing« of the document (e.g., the citation and/or abstract), it became interesting to analyze the properties of what constitutes »relevance«. However, prior to such an analysis, an even more elementary step had to be made, namely, to determine what portions of a document should be examined.An evaluation of the ability of intermediate response products (IRPs), functioning as cues to the information content of full documents, to predict the relevance determination that would be subsequently made on these documents by motivated users of information retrieval systems, was made under controlled experimental conditions. The hypothesis that there might be other intermediate response products (selected extracts from the document, i.e., first paragraph, last paragraph, and the combination of first and last paragraph), that would be as representative of the full document as the traditional IRPs (citation and abstract) was tested systematically. The results showed that:1. there is no significant difference among the several IRP treatment groups on the number of cue evaluations of relevancy which match the subsequent user relevancy decision on the document;2. first and last paragraph combinations have consistently predicted relevancy to a higher degree than the other IRPs;3. abstracts were undistinguished as predictors; and4. the apparent high predictability rating for citations was not substantive.Some of these results are quite different than would be expected from previous work with unmotivated subjects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-596

Technology plays a crucial role in the self-guided learning of a second language in general and English in particular. Nevertheless, many students in different contexts still ignore the application of technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) tools in enhancing their foreign language proficiency. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the attitudes towards the use of TELL tools in English-language learning (ELL) among English majors at one university in Vietnam. To collect data, 197 English majors participated in finishing the questionnaire, and 20 students were invited to join the interviews. The findings are that the majority of students have positive attitudes towards the use of TELL tools and the frequency of using these tools is very high. In addition, the results also reveal that there is no significant difference in attitudes towards and frequency of using TELL tools in learning English in terms of the year of study. However, students of different levels of academic achievements have different attitudes towards using TELL tools and use TELL tools to learn English differently. Received 2nd May 2019; Revised 16th July 2019, Accepted 20th October 2019


1967 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 619-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Jacob Koed ◽  
Christian Hamburger

ABSTRACT Comparison of the dose-response curves for LH of ovine origin (NIH-LH-S8) and of human origin (IRP-HMG-2) using the OAAD test showed a small, though statistically significant difference, the dose-response curve for LH of human origin being a little flatter. Two standard curves for ovine LH obtained with 14 months' interval, were parallel but at different levels of ovarian ascorbic acid. When the mean ascorbic acid depletions were calculated as percentages of the control levels, the two curves for NIH-LH-S8 were identical. The use of standards of human origin in the OAAD test for LH activity of human preparations is recommended.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Konzok ◽  
L Kreuzpointner ◽  
GI Henze ◽  
L Wagels ◽  
C Kärgel ◽  
...  

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) is widely used to measure reactive aggression in laboratory settings. While modified versions (mTAPs) with various stimulus characteristics (shocks, noise, pressure, heat) have already been established, a modified version with monetary stimuli has only been introduced very recently. In this experiment, 209 young healthy participants (104 males, 105 females) completed a mock Competitive Reaction Time Task (CRTT) with a fictional opponent with preprogrammed 40 win and 60 lose trials. In lose trials, participants were provoked by subtracting a low (0–20 euro cents), medium (30–60 cents) or high (70–90 cents) amount of money from their fictitious account. Provocation stimuli were either presented randomly or in a fixed sequence (experimental conditions). In contrast to a random sequence, the fixed sequence was generated by repeating trials from the same provocation category in series of three. Linear mixed models (LMMs) considering aggression trajectories revealed significant effects of provocation (low, medium, high) and trait aggression (K-FAF) on reactive aggression. Men showed significantly higher reactive aggression levels than women. In regard to provocation sequence, we found no significant difference in reactive aggression between the random vs. fixed stimulus sequences. The findings provide new evidence supporting the view that the monetary mTAP is able to induce as well as capture reactive aggression in the laboratory. Additionally, we found no advantage of a fixed sequence as the level of reactive aggression in a given trial appeared to be mainly predicted by the preceding provocation trial.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 814.3-814
Author(s):  
A. Ben Tekaya ◽  
L. Ben Ammar ◽  
M. Ben Hammamia ◽  
O. Saidane ◽  
S. Bouden ◽  
...  

Background:Infectious spondylodiscitis is a therapeutic emergency and is a current problem. It can affect the different levels of the spine. Multifocal forms, touching several floors, however remain rare.Objectives:To compare the clinical, biological, radiological and therapeutic aspects of unifocal versus multifocal spondylodiscitis.Methods:This is a retrospective study of 113 patients admitted to our service over a period of 20 years [1998-2018]. The diagnosis of spondylodiscitis was made on the basis of clinical, biological, radiological and bacteriological data. We have divided our population into two groups: unifocal and multifocal spondylodiscitis.Results:Spondylodiscitis was more frequently unifocal (75.2%) than multifocal (24.8%). The average age of the patients was 55.8 years. There were 62 men and 51 women. There was no difference in age and sex between the two groups (p=0.5 and p=0.8, respectively).Diabetes was more frequent in the group of multifocal spondylodiscitis but with no statistically significant difference (p=0.4). No statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the start mode (p=0.7), the schedule (p=0.3), the presence of neurological signs (p=0.7), fever (p = 0.2), impaired general condition (p=0.6) and biological inflammatory syndrome (p=0.6).Cervical and dorsal spine involvement was more common in multifocal spondylodiscitis (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01; respectively). There were 11 spondylodiscitis involving 2 floors (cervical and dorsal: 2 cases, cervical and lumbar: 3 cases, dorsal and lumbar: 6 cases) and 3 spondylodiscitis involving 3 floors.Radiologically, the presence of vertebral fracture and involvement of the posterior arch was more frequent during the multifocal form (p=0.03 and p=0.001; respectively). The frequency of para-vertebral abscesses, epiduritis and the presence of spinal cord compression were similar in the two groups (p=0.6; p=0.7 and p=0.2, respectively).Tuberculosis was more frequent during the multifocal form (p = 0.05) and brucellosis during the unifocal form (p = 0.03). Disco-vertebral biopsy was performed in 79 cases. It was more often contributory during multifocal spondylodiscitis (p = 0.03).The occurrence of immediate complications was more frequent in multifocal spondylodiscitis but with no statistically significant difference (p=0.2).Conclusion:Multifocal sppondylodiscitis is seen mainly in immunocompromised subjects. Our study found that diabetes is the most common factor in immunosuppression. Note also the predominance of involvement of the posterior elements, tuberculous origin and immediate complications.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Payam Farzad ◽  
Ted Lundgren ◽  
Adel Al-Asfour ◽  
Lars Andersson ◽  
Christer Dahlin

This study was undertaken to investigate the integration of titanium micro-implants installed in conjunction with previously dentin-grafted areas and to study the morphological appearance, mineral content, and healing pattern of xenogenic EDTA-conditioned dentin blocks and granules grafted to cavities in the tibial bone of rabbits. Demineralized and non-demineralized dentin blocks and granules from human premolars were implanted into cavities prepared on the lateral aspects of the tibias of rabbits. After a healing period of six months, micro-implants were installed at each surgical site. Histological examinations were carried out after 24 weeks. Characterization of the EDTA-conditioned dentin blocks was performed by means of light microscopy, dental X-rays, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). No implants were found to be integrated in direct contact with the dentin particles or blocks. On the EDTA-conditioned dentin surface, the organic marker elements C and N dominated, as revealed by EDX. The hydroxyapatite constituents Ca and P were almost absent on the dentin surface. No statistically significant difference was observed between the EDTA-conditioned and non-demineralized dentin, as revealed by BIC and BA. The bone-inductive capacity of the dentin material seemed limited, although demineralization by means of EDTA indicated higher BIC and BA values in conjunction with the installed implants in the area. A 12 h EDTA treatment did not fully decalcify the grafts, as revealed by X-ray analysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-283
Author(s):  
Christoph Bartneck ◽  
Merel Keijsers

AbstractIt is not uncommon for humans to exhibit abusive behaviour towards robots. This study compares how abusive behaviour towards a human is perceived differently in comparison with identical behaviour towards a robot. We showed participants 16 video clips of unparalleled quality that depicted different levels of violence and abuse. For each video, we asked participants to rate the moral acceptability of the action, the violence depicted, the intention to harm, and how abusive the action was. The results indicate no significant difference in the perceived morality of the actions shown in the videos across the two victim agents. When the agents started to fight back, their reactive aggressive behaviour was rated differently. Humans fighting back were seen as less immoral compared with robots fighting back. A mediation analysis showed that this was predominately due to participants perceiving the robot’s response as more abusive than the human’s response.


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