The Effects of Microglia on Tauopathy Progression Can Be Quantified Using Nexopathy in Silico (Nexis) Models

The prion-like transsynaptic propagation of misfolded tau along the brain’s connectome has previously been modeled using connectome-based network diffusion models. In addition to the connectome, interactions between the general neurological ‘milieu’ in the neurodegenerative brain and proteinopathic species can also contribute to pathology propagation. Such a molecular nexopathy framework posits that the distinct characteristics of neurodegenerative disorders stem from interactions between the network and surrounding molecular players. However, the effects of these modulators remain unquantified. Here, we present Nexopathy in silico (‘Nexis’), a quantitative model of tau progression augmenting earlier models by including parameters of pathology propagation defined by the molecular modulators of connectome-based spread. Our Nexis:microglia model provides the first quantitative characterization of this effect on the whole brain by expanding previous models of neuropathology progression by incorporating microglial influence. We show that Trem2, but not microglial homeostasis genes, significantly improved the model’s predictive power. Trem2 appears to reduce tau accumulation rate while increasing its interregional spread from the hippocampal seed area, causing higher tau burden in the striatum, pallidum, and contralateral hippocampus. Nexis thus provides an improved understanding and quantification of microglial contribution to tau propagation and can be flexibly modified to include other modulators of progressive neurodegeneration.

Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Produksi Padi di Kecamatan Kuranji Kota Padang Provinsi Sumatera Barat

Rice is the most widely cultivated commodity by farmers in Indonesia. In addition, it is also the primary commodity of food crops that become the leading food ingredient of Indonesian people. Along with the increasing population of Indonesia, the need for rice will also increase. This research aims to determine the factors that affect rice production in the Kuranji District of Padang City of West Sumatra Province. This research was conducted from February - May. Kuranji subdistrict election was conducted purposively, considering that the subdistrict is one of the rice production centers in Padang City. The data used in this study is primary data. The study used quantitative data analysis — a sampling technique with snowball sampling techniques with 30 respondents. The method used in this study in analyzing the factors that affect rice production is the regression analysis of the Cobb-Douglas production function model. The results showed that land area variables, seed variables, fertilizer variables, labor variables outside the family, and labor variables in families were influential and had positive coefficients. In contrast, variables that have no natural effect on rice production at the level of 5 percent are variables in land and seed area.

Influence of parental nitrogen : phosphorus stoichiometry on seed characteristics and performance of Holcus lanatus L. and Parnassia palustris L.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability affect plant sexual reproduction performance. Seed as the main product of sexual reproduction is expected to be affected by N and P availability in parent plant. We experimentally test how parental N:P stoichiometry affected seed characteristics and performance of two grassland species. Seeds of a common species (Holcus lanatus) and an endangered species (Parnassia palustris) were collected from parent plants under two different N:P ratio growth conditions in a grassland reserve in the Netherlands. We measured the following traits of the two species from the two parental N:P ratio growth conditions: seed N concentration and content, seed P concentration and content, seed length, seed area, seed weight, seed germination, and offspring survival. No significant inter-location difference was found in seed weight of the collected seeds for either of the two species. However, the stronger P-limited conditions at the locations of the parent plants affected seed length and seed area negatively in H. lanatus and positively in P. palustris. Stronger P-limited conditions also decreased seed P concentration and content and increased seed N:P ratio of H. lanatus, but no inter-location nutrient difference was found in seeds of P. palustris. Surprisingly, contrary to what could be expected from seed P concentration and content there was no inter-location difference in seed germination for H. lanatus. For P. palustris, stronger P-limited conditions in the parental environment significantly enhanced seed germination, whereas stronger P-limited conditions in the offspring environment decreased offspring survival, suggesting that P limitation may negatively affect P. palustris rejuvenation. Our results suggest the possibility of different influences of parental N:P ratio and especially of P limitation on seed characteristics and performance of a common and an endangered species.

EFISIENSI PENGGUNAAN FAKTOR PRODUKSI DAN PENDAPATAN USAHATANI TUMPANGSARI STROBERI-BAWANG DAUN DI DESA SERANG KECAMATAN KARANGREJA KABUPATEN PURBALINGGA

Strawberry (Fragaria sp.) is a type of fruit that has high economic value. An to increase the income of strawberry farmers is by intercropping with leek. To understand the efficiency of the farming the by using production input. This research aims to 1) analyze the effect of the use of production factors, 2) analyze the level of efficiency in the use of production factors, and 3) to analyze the profit level of intercropping strawberries-leek in Serang Village, Karangreja District, Purbalingga Regency. There are 35 samples obtained using simple random sampling. The analysis was performed using the Cobb Douglass production function analysis, the NPM / BKM ratio and farm income analysis. The results of this research were the use of production factors, seed; area; labor; and insecticides partially affected the production of intercropping strawberries, while the production factors of chicken-husk fertilizer; NPK-Phonska fertilizer; other fertilizers; and fungicides had no effect on the production of intercropping strawberries. The production factors for seeds; labor; and insecticides have an NPM-BKM ratio value greater than one where the use of these inputs is not efficient. Meanwhile, the production factor for land area has an NPM-BKM ratio value of less than one where the use of these inputs is not efficient. R / C for cash costs was 4.61 and R / C for total costs was 1.09. The R / C value for both cash costs and total costs has a value greater than one, so the strawberry and leek intercropping farming in Serang Village can be said to be profitable.

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF APPLYING A NEW SET OF SINGLE-NUCLEIC POLYMORPHISMS LOCI TO THE OPTIMIZATION OF THE FOREST SEED AREA OF PEDUNCULATE OAK

We tested 95 new, geographically informative nuclear SNP loci of pedunculate oak in order to identify genetic differences of populations in the same seed zone. In a cluster analysis all individuals of the two studied stands are divided into two distinct groups. We observed statistically significant genetic differentiation of two populations (genetic distance d_0 = 0.170, parameter of differentiation 〖delta〗_T = 0.1696, genetic fixation F_ST = 0.0687) and higher genetic variability in the lowland stand (P = 91,58%, observed heterozygosity H_O = 0.364, expected heterozygosity H_E = 0.330, diversity of alleles υа = 1.58) in comparison to the oak stand in the Volga uplands (P = 77,89%, H_O = 0.327, H_E = 0.272, υа = 1.47). We concluded that these oak forests should be subdivided into different seed zones. Continuing the research by using the set of SNP loci and expanding the set of studied populations will supply Russian forestry by genetic information to optimize the forest seed zoning of the pedunculate oak.

Cone and seeds variability in seed orchards and seed stands of Pinus sylvestris L.

Seeds from seed orchards and seed stands may differ in morphology and quality, both determined during the seed assessment. The study aims at the comparison of phenotypic characters of cones and seeds originating from economic seed stands and seed orchards of Scots pine from western Poland. The study was conducted in 5 seed stands and 5 clonal seed orchards, representing five Scots pine populations. The analyses included the following measurements: length and width of cones, the number of empty and full seeds in the cone and the weight of 1,000 seeds. Moreover, the measurements of the length and width of the seed surface were carried out. The analysed seed stands and orchards were characterized by high variability in terms of the size and weight of cones and the amount of seeds. An ANOVA treatment showed that seed stands and orchards significantly differed in length and width of cones and seeds. Both seeds and cones from the seed orchards were characterized by higher values of analyzed traits than ones from the economic seed stands. Differences in mass of cones and 1000 seed weigh were of low significance (p = 0.022 ÷ 0.037). Significant differences between the length of seeds and seed area among all of the examined populations were demonstrated. The percentage contribution of empty seeds for all of the analysed sites of origin was not statistically significant. Keywords: Scots pine, population, seed orchards, variation, seeds, cones

Monitoring the Maturation of Crambe Seeds Using X-ray Image Analysis

The application of modern and efficient techniques to access seed physical and physiological information has contributed to new advances in the agricultural sector. The objective of this study was to evaluate morphometric parameters obtained from the X-Ray analysis using crambe seeds harvested at different maturation stages and to relate them to seed physiological potential. Seeds harvested at different maturation stages were evaluated using X-Ray test, germination, first germination count, germination speed index, root protrusion velocity and accelerated aging. The Principal Components Analysis was applied to data collected. The results demonstrated that the X-Ray analysis allowed to visualize internal morphology of crambe seeds. Differences between seeds harvested at different maturation levels were observed. Correlations between physical variables were verified, such as seed area with germination (r = 0.96). The use of X-Ray analysis combined with semi-automated analysis is efficient to differentiate crambe seeds in different maturation stages. The morphometric parameters are related to the physiological quality of crambe seeds.

Evaluation of two groups of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) accessions with different seed colours for adaptation to the Mediterranean environment

Agronomic and seed-quality traits in 17 quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) accessions grouped according to seed colour (i.e. ochre and yellow) were investigated and compared with the white commercial cultivar Regalona-Baer. These accessions were previously selected from a range of accessions of diverse origin and seed colour for their potential value in a breeding program for cultivars adapted to the southern Italian environment. Field trials were conducted over 2 years in Foggia, southern Italy. The aim was to identify elite genotypes suited to the Mediterranean Basin in terms of high yields and seed quality, by using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. The genotype and year effects were statistically significant for most parameters investigated, whereas the genotype×year interaction was significant only for seed quality. There were significant differences between the two seed-colour groups for most of the investigated traits, but not for total dry weight, days to flowering, and soluble and insoluble fibre. The major difference between the accessions and cv. Regalona-Baer was lower seed yield for the ochre seed group (30% lower, on average); this was associated with increased plant height (13% higher, on average), greater number of days to maturity (+6 days, on average) and shorter panicle length (21% shorter, on average). These results were observed for both growing seasons. The seed yield of the yellow seed group was similar to Regalona-Baer. Focusing on individual accessions, PCA indicated that accessions Q12, Q18 and Q26 were similar to Regalona-Baer for seed yield, 1000-seed weight, seed area and seed perimeter, and accession Q4 had the highest protein and kaempferol contents for both years. Seed area and perimeter, harvest index, and 1000-seed weight showed positive associations with seed yield, whereas days to flowering, days to maturity and quality traits were negatively correlated with seed yield for both years. Cluster analysis carried out on all of the agronomic and seed-quality traits did not show clear clustering of the accessions based on seed colour alone. The results of this study confirm that both the ochre and yellow quinoa seed groups included elite accessions that can be used directly in future selection programs for the development of high-yielding varieties well adapted to the Mediterranean environment.

Analysis of a Mini Core of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Accessions Based on Seed Morphometric Data

Seed morphometric parameters (seed area, length, diameter, circumference, roundness and aspect ratio) of 15 accessions were analysed. Measurements on seeds were taken with help of a Computer- Camera system. Variation among accessions and genetic relationships were estimated. Great variability was observed for all parameters studied. ¶High positive or negative correlation (r=0.726-0.963) was showed by Pearson’s correlation analysis for the seed metric data of the 15 accessions. The cluster analysis revealed that the 15 accessions could be grouped into three to five clusters according to the methods (Single or Complete Linkage) used. The principal components analysis showed that the first two components accounted for 99.3% of the variability. Morphometric characterization of seeds is rapid, reproducible, reliable and cost effective. This technique of digital imaging is strongly recommended for researchers from developing country like Benin, because of its efficiency.

Multivariate analysis to assess abscisic acid content association with different physiological and plant growth related traits of Petunia

Petunia is an important and beautiful ornamental flowering plant, grown throughout the world for its beauty and attraction. Different <em>Petunia</em> hybrids have been developed by petunia growing countries of the world. The prescribed study was conducted to investigate the association of abscisic acid with seed yield and its contributing traits of petunia line. Data for different physiological, morphological and petunia seed yield traits was recorded, analyzed and interpreted for final inferences. From results it was showed that the petunia lines IAGS-P8, IAGS-P9 and IAGS-P11 performed well for most of the studied traits. It was shown from multivariate analysis techniques that stomata conductance, chlorophyll b contents, seed area, chlorophyll a contents, flower fresh mass, flowers per plant, seed mass and abscisic acid contributed higher to seed yield per plant in petunia. The abscisic acid contents showed positive and significant association and contribution towards seed yield of petunia genotypes. It was suggested that selection on the basis of abscisic acid may be useful to develop good seed yield per plant and large number of flowers per plant in petunia under stressful environmental conditions.