Assessment of Oil Palm Pollinating Weevil (Elaeidobius kamerunicus) Population Density in Biparental dura × pisifera Hybrids on Deep Peat-Soil in Perak State, Malaysia

This study was conducted to assess the Elaeidobius kamerunicus (EK) population density among the biparental dura × pisifera hybrids’ palms on deep peat-soil. Twenty-four hybrids derived from 10 genetic sources were used. Variance analysis showed that the EK population density varies between different oil palm hybrids, with a more noticeable variation of a low population mean in the male weevil across the hybrids. The highest weevil population mean/spikelet was attained on the third day of anthesis. The maximum monthly population of EK/spikelet (12.81 ± 0.23) and population density of EK (1846.49 ± 60.69) were recorded in January. Accordingly, 41.67% of the hybrids recorded an EK population density greater than the trial means of 973.68 weevils. Hybrid ECPHP550 had the highest mean of EK/spikelet (10.25 ± 0.11) and the highest population density of EK/palm (1241.39 ± 73.74). The parental mean population was 963.24 weevils and parent Deli-Banting × AVROS recorded the highest EK population density (1173.01). The overall results showed a notable disparity in the EK population among the biparental hybrids. Parental Deli-Banting × AVROS and hybrid ECPHP550 could be more useful to optimize the weevil population for pollination improvements in palm plantations. However, we suggest that volatile production should be included as a desirable trait in oil palm selective breeding.

Endolithic phototrophs: Examples from cave-like environments

Endoliths are more frequently found in extremely harsh environments, but they can inhabit mesic climate and subterranean habitats as well. Whether they are adapted to life inside rocks or do they seek refuge in this way, remains largely unknown for caves and pits. Consequently, subterranean habitats in limestone areas, were explored: three caves in Serbia (Cerjanska, Petnička and Potpeć) and one pit in Croatia (Keranova Golubinka). Sampling of rock substratum containing endoliths was performed at various distances from the entrance, at sites characterized by a lower level of light intensity. Phototrophs were separated from the rock matrix using 10% hydrochloric acid and analyzed using light microscopy. In general, low diversity of endoliths was observed, but representatives from Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta and Xanthophyta were found. Cyanobacteria, more precisely coccoid forms (genera Aphanocapsa, Chroococcidiopsis, Gloeocapsa, Gloeocapsopsis, Synechococcus), were dominant. The most interesting cyanobacterial taxon, Leptolyngbya-like taxon, representing a true endolith (euendolith), was found in the Petnička Cave. This taxon and its relation to the substratum, as well as chasmoendolithic community from the Keranova Golubinka Pit, were observed using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that chasmoendoliths inhabit already existing surface rock cracks and fissures, while a true endolith actively bores into the substratum. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was performed to observe the similarity between the sampling sites. Endoliths can grow inside the rocks, making them very successful biodeteriogens, which is not a desirable trait for caves and pits that are characterized by various attractive geomorphological features that need to be preserved. Thus, considering these habitats, more attention should be paid to the endolith community in the future.

Comparative metabolomics analysis reveals the variations of eating quality among three high-quality rice cultivars

Good eating quality is a highly desirable trait of rice which determines its commercial value and market share. However, the molecular basis of this trait remains largely unknown. Here, three high-quality conventional rice cultivars, including two superior eating quality cultivars Meixiangzhan-2 (MXZ) and Xiangyaxiangzhan (XYXZ), and one ordinary eating quality cultivar Huanghuazhan (HHZ), were analyzed by comparative metabolomics to identify the inherent mechanism for the formation of superior eating quality. The results showed 58.8% of common differential substances between MXZ vs HHZ and XYXZ vs HHZ were enriched in MXZ and XYXZ, whereas 39.2% of them were prominently decreased compared with HHZ, mainly including amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, phenolamides, and flavonoids, which may be the primary factors leading to the differences of taste and flavor among these three cultivars. We also found that lysine derivatives and fatty acids may have a close relationship with taste. These results above provide important insights into the taste-forming mechanism of rice and will be beneficial for superior eating quality rice breeding.

Field Distance Effects of Fipronil and Chlorfenapyr as Soil Termiticides Against the Desert Subterranean Termite, Heterotermes aureus (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

A desirable trait of termiticides is that they suppress termite activity at a distance from the site of application. Fipronil and chlorfenapyr are two non-repellent termiticides that display delayed toxicity and are therefore good candidates for yielding distance effects. We assessed their effects as soil-applied termiticides for the management of the desert subterranean termite, Heterotermes aureus (Snyder), under field conditions in southern Arizona. Our approach involved recording termite activity within field experimental grids consisting of termite monitoring stations at selected distances from a termiticide application perimeter. Fipronil-treated plots experienced large and significant reductions in termite presence and abundance relative to controls in stations immediately adjacent to treated soil. However, there was no evidence of reductions in termite activity in stations further away from the soil treatment. In contrast, termite abundance and presence in stations decreased relatively to controls after chlorfenapyr application in whole experimental grids and in several grid sections spatially separated from treated soil. These reductions were especially evident in the five central stations surrounded by the treatment perimeter and in the furthest set of stations. The spatial pattern of changes in chlorfenapyr plots was consistent with termiticide transfer as a mechanism behind distance effects. The impact of fipronil and chlorfenapyr on termite populations in our study suggests that they can both be useful for the management of H. aureus, although each might be suited for differentmanagement goals. Our results also suggest that perimeter treatments alone are not sufficient to accomplish full control of large H. aureus infestations.

Reading Representations of (Un)desirable GBTI Men on QueerLife’s 4Men Website Section

Using discourse analysis and semiotic analysis, this article examines how the language and images of the “4men” section of the South African site QueerLife construct masculinity and femininity as (un)desirable aspects in gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (GBTI) men’s relationships. The use of “(un)desirable” in this article suggests that there are contesting definitions of what constitutes desirable and undesirable traits in GBTI relationships. Although QueerLife states that it caters to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people, this article only focuses on GBTI men’s content in the 4men section. The article argues that despite claiming to cater to all within the LGBTI spectrum, representations on QueerLife 4men seem to treat masculinity as the most desirable trait. This encompasses traits such as penis size, athleticism, class, emotionlessness, and muscular, firmly built bodies. Overall, the analysis of these texts will show that among what such representations seek to achieve in post-apartheid South Africa is an appeal to white, urban, middle-class gay communities.

Milk production, fertility and the modern dairy cow

Increasing the volume of milk produced per cow has been a successful direction of the dairy industry for many years. Management of genetics, the physical environment and changes in nutrition have ensured significant progress has been made towards maximising the milk yield per cow. This production focus has come at a cost however, with increased milk yield seemingly being at odds with the desirable trait of reproductive efficiency.

The Effect of 12 Hour Shifts, Time of Day, and Sleepiness on Emotional Empathy and Burnout in Medical Students

Sleepiness decreases alertness and results in decrements in performance. This is especially problematic in the healthcare field due to restricted sleep from shift-work. Sleepiness increases medical errors, but it also affects emotions and interpersonal interactions. Empathy in physicians is a desirable trait which is associated with increased patient recovery rates and patient satisfaction, and decreased use of pain medication. Shift-work may alter empathy in physicians and affect patient outcomes, but the effects of sleepiness on empathy are unknown. Empathy, which is related to burnout, declines during medical school, while incidence of burnout increases. This study assessed the effect of sleepiness from time of day (TOD) and 12 h shifts on empathy and burnout in medical students. Participants were tested on sleepiness and empathy prior to and immediately following a 12 h Emergency Medical Technician shift. Burnout was assessed following each shift to determine if it was affected by sleepiness, empathy, and shift. TOD affected empathy, with empathy highest in the evening. Sleepiness from working 12 h shifts resulted in decreased empathy and increased burnout, with females showing higher rates on the exhaustion component of burnout. This research demonstrates that TOD affects empathy, and sleepiness decreases empathy and increases burnout in medical students.

Morphoanatomy and Chlorophyll of Lettuce Plants Induced by Rhizobacteria

Lettuce is a consumed crop in the world, and increased yield is a desirable trait, and can be realized with the use of biopromotors, already described in many cultures. The objective of this work was to test the ability of two rhizobacterial isolates P. fluorescens (BRM-3211) and B. pyrrocinia (BRM-3213) to promote anatomical and growth changes in lettuce plants in the seedling stage. The increments promoted by B. pyrrocinia were smaller when using P. fluorescens. The BRM-32111 isolate, promoted increases in leaf area of 133%, 31% and 307% of fresh shoot and root mass, also increased 51% and 143% of aerial and root dry mass. The plants inoculated with BRM-32111 increased in 100% and 68% of the aerial part and radicular compared to the control treatment, and induced alterations in the anatomical characteristics in the root in 74% in the radicular diameter, 20% of the thickness of the cortex, 67% of the exoderme and 171% of the endoderm. In the leaf anatomy, BRM 32111 increased by 18% in the parenchyma expansion, 56% in the number of parenchyma cell layers, 122% adaxial endoderm, 23% epidermis, 174% beam expansion, 37% when compared to control. In this way the use of BRM-32111 influences the growth and morphology of lettuce seedlings.

Bulk-edge correspondence and long-range hopping in the topological plasmonic chain

The existence of topologically protected edge modes is often cited as a highly desirable trait of topological insulators. However, these edge states are not always present. A realistic physical treatment of long-range hopping in a one-dimensional dipolar system can break the symmetry that protects the edge modes without affecting the bulk topological number, leading to a breakdown in bulk-edge correspondence (BEC). Hence, it is important to gain a better understanding of where and how this occurs, as well as how to measure it. Here we examine the behaviour of the bulk and edge modes in a dimerised chain of metallic nanoparticles and in a simpler non-Hermitian next-nearest-neighbour model to provide some insights into the phenomena of bulk-edge breakdown. We construct BEC phase diagrams for the simpler case and use these ideas to devise a measure of symmetry-breaking for the plasmonic system based on its bulk properties. This provides a parameter regime in which BEC is preserved in the topological plasmonic chain, as well as a framework for assessing this phenomenon in other systems.

How and when does grit influence leaders’ behavior?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of grit, which is the tendency to pursue long-term goals with perseverance and continuing passion, on leaders’ self-reported behavior in terms of role modeling and innovating, as well as inspiring, empowering and supporting followers.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from an international sample of 3,702 leaders in work and non-work contexts. They reported their level of grit and how frequently they engaged in five leadership practices. Moderation analysis was used to test the influence of grit on leadership behaviors across contexts.FindingsHigh grit leaders reported more frequent role modeling and innovating behaviors, but less inspiring behavior. Grit’s effect on empowering behaviors depended on the context; grit caused leaders to empower followers more in non-work contexts, but not in work-related ones.Research limitations/implicationsThat grit is an important predictor of leadership behavior yields both practical and theoretical implications. For practice, the results suggest that grit is a desirable trait in managers, corresponding with their greater use of various leadership behaviors. For theory, the results suggest that part of the effect of traits in leadership arises from influencing the frequency with which leaders engage in particular behaviors.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine grit’s role in leadership, and it has practical and theoretical implications. For practice, the results suggest that grit is a desirable trait in leaders, but one which requires unique supports from the leader’s environment. For theory, the results begin to fill an important gap. It is well-established that personality influences leadership outcomes, but it remains uncertain how and when. The current study suggests how, since traits influence the frequency with which leaders engage in particular behaviors, and begins to define when, highlighting differences between work and non-work contexts.