Defense Suppression through Interplant Communication Depends on the Attacking Herbivore Species

In response to herbivory, plants emit volatile compounds that play important roles in plant defense. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) can deter herbivores, recruit natural enemies, and warn other plants of possible herbivore attack. Following HIPV detection, neighboring plants often respond by enhancing their anti-herbivore defenses, but a recent study found that herbivores can manipulate HIPV-interplant communication for their own benefit and suppress defenses in neighboring plants. Herbivores induce species-specific blends of HIPVs and how these different blends affect the specificity of plant defense responses remains unclear. Here we assessed how HIPVs from zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo) challenged with different herbivore species affect resistance in neighboring plants. Volatile “emitter” plants were damaged by one of three herbivore species: saltmarsh caterpillars (Estigmene acrea), squash bugs (Anasa tristis), or striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum), or were left as undamaged controls. Neighboring “receiver” plants were exposed to HIPVs or control volatiles and then challenged by the associated herbivore species. As measures of plant resistance, we quantified herbivore feeding damage and defense-related phytohormones in receivers. We found that the three herbivore species induced different HIPV blends from squash plants. HIPVs induced by saltmarsh caterpillars suppressed defenses in receivers, leading to greater herbivory and lower defense induction compared to controls. In contrast, HIPVs induced by cucumber beetles and squash bugs did not affect plant resistance to subsequent herbivory in receivers. Our study shows that herbivore species identity affects volatile-mediated interplant communication in zucchini, revealing a new example of herbivore defense suppression through volatile cues.

     

Students Weigh In: Usability Test of Online Library Tutorials

Librarians can improve their online tutorials by borrowing usability testing techniques from the computer science field to improve the human-computer interface. This study involved a multimethod usability test of librarian-created tutorials to determine what students learned, how they felt on several affective questions, and what they suggested for improving the tutorials. Results of pre- and post-tests showed that student knowledge increased, and surveys and focus group findings lean to several suggestions for improving engagement and placing tutorials where they will be most effective. This case study demonstrates the value of user input to improve the effectiveness of online instruction for information literacy.     

Optics clustered to output unique solutions: a multi-laser facility for combined single molecule and ensemble microscopy

Optics clustered to output unique solutions (OCTOPUS) is a microscopy platform that combines single molecule and ensemble imaging methodologies. A novel aspect of OCTOPUS is its laser excitation system, which consists of a central core of interlocked continuous wave and pulsed laser sources, launched into optical fibres and linked via laser combiners. Fibres are plugged into wall-mounted patch panels that reach microscopy end-stations in adjacent rooms. This allows multiple tailor-made combinations of laser colours and time characteristics to be shared by different end-stations minimising the need for laser duplications. This setup brings significant benefits in terms of cost effectiveness, ease of operation, and user safety. The modular nature of OCTOPUS also facilitates the addition of new techniques as required, allowing the use of existing lasers in new microscopes while retaining the ability to run the established parts of the facility. To date, techniques interlinked are multi-photon/multicolour confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging for several modalities of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and time-resolved anisotropy, total internal reflection fluorescence, single molecule imaging of single pair FRET, single molecule fluorescence polarisation, particle tracking, and optical tweezers. Here, we use a well-studied system, the epidermal growth factor receptor network, to illustrate how OCTOPUS can aid in the investigation of complex biological phenomena.     

Two for the General Audience Plus a Survey on BI

Abstract

The research in this paper considers the complex and dynamic arrangements for potential and actual knowledge sharing in interorganizational networks. The essence of this stance is that “knowledge” relates to affirmative managerial action beyond the necessary collection of information facilitated through technology. The issue is to determine the nature and extent of the degree of organizational agreement that may be achieved as competitors either cooperate or continue to compete in the face of challenging and pervasive market conditions. The theory relating to network formulation is reviewed, findings from empirical analyses from the experiences from automobile distributors in a large USA city, and one scientific collaborators network are presented. A framework is proposed identifying the factors necessary to initially construct the network and then to further sustain it over time. A number of lessons learned are developed, which are believed to be of value to researchers and practitioners engaged in these processes.     

Cross-Campus Collaboration to Produce Camtasia-Enhanced Lessons to Improve Distance Learning

This pilot study examines the use of Camtasia-enhanced lessons to supplement distance education provided to medical laboratory science students. More programs of study are available as distance learning opportunities, creating challenges to find better ways to present material. Librarians provided technical expertise necessary to produce a Camtasia video. This helped instructors prepare engaging lectures for phlebotomy to supplement the PowerPoint presentations and self-directed lessons provided in previous courses. Medical laboratory science faculty collaborated with library staff to produce videos that demonstrate proper phlebotomy technique using training personnel and faculty, whom the students eventually interact with in the clinical environment.     

Calculus Students' Use and Interpretation of Variables: Algebraic vs. Arithmetic Thinking

Abstract

The ability to use and interpret algebraic variables as generalized numbers and changing quantities is fundamental to the learning of calculus. This study considers the use of variables in these advanced ways as a component of algebraic thinking. College introductory calculus students' (n = 174) written responses to algebra problems requiring the use and interpretation of variables as changing quantities were examined for evidence of algebraic and arithmetic thinking. A framework was developed to describe and categorize examples of algebraic, transitional, and arithmetic thinking reflected in these students' uses of variables. The extent to which students' responses showed evidence of algebraic or arithmetic thinking was quantified and related to their course grades. Only one third of the responses of these entering calculus students were identified as representative of algebraic thinking. This study extends previous research by showing that evidence of algebraic thinking in students' work was positively related to successful performance in calculus.     

Identifying and understanding urban sport areas using Nokia Sports Tracker

Current advancements in pervasive technologies allow users to create and share an increasing amount of whereabouts data. Thus, some rich datasets on human mobility are becoming available on the web. In this paper we extracted approximately 790,000 mobility traces from a web-based repository of GPS tracks—the Nokia Sports Tracker Service. Using data mining mechanisms, we show that this data can be analyzed to uncover daily routines and interesting schemes in the use of public spaces. We first show that our approach supports large-scale analysis of people’s whereabouts by comparing behavioral patterns across cities. Then, using Kernel Density Estimation, we present a mechanism to identify popular sport areas in individual cities. This kind of analysis allows us to highlight human-centered geographies that can support a wide range of applications ranging from location-based services to urban planning.     

Proteomics identification of differentially expressed proteins in the muscle of dysferlin myopathy patients

The muscular dystrophies are a large and heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders that can be classified according to the mode of inheritance, the clinical phenotype and the molecular defect. To better understand the pathological mechanisms of dysferlin myopathy we compared the protein-expression pattern in the muscle biopsies of six patients with this disease with six patients with limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2A, five with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy and six normal control subjects. To investigate differences in the expression levels of skeletal muscle proteins we used 2-DE and MS. Western blot or immunohistochemistry confirmed relevant results. The study showed specific increase expression of proteins involved in fast-to-slow fiber type conversion (ankyrin repeat protein 2), type I predominance (phosphorylated forms of slow troponin T), sarcomere stabilization (actinin-associated LIM protein), protein ubiquitination (TRIM 72) and skeletal muscle differentiation (Rho-GDP-dissociation inhibitor ly-GDI) in dysferlin myopathy. As anticipated, we also found differential expression of proteins common to all the muscular dystrophies studied. This comparative proteomic analysis suggests that in dysferlin myopathy (i) the type I fiber predominance is an active process of fiber type conversion rather than a selective loss of type II fibers and (ii) the dysregulation of proteins involved in muscle differentiation further confirms the role of dysferlin in this process.