Competition at the soybean V6 stage affects root morphology and biochemical composition.

The experiment was conducted in the 2016/17 crop season in a greenhouse at Passo Fundo University, Brazil. We hypothesised that the morphological characteristics and biochemical and anatomical composition of soybean roots and shoots, when competing with weeds during different growth periods, are negatively affected, so current concepts of competition between plants should also consider changes in plant roots. The soybean cultivar P 95R51 and horseweed (Conyza bonariensis) were used. The treatments consisted of the presence or absence of weeds during different coexistence periods of soybean with horseweed. The periods were V0-V3, V0-V6, V0-R2, V3-R6, V6-R6 and R2-R6, where V0 was the date of soybean sowing and V3, V6, R2 and R6 were phenological stages of the crop. Two fresh roots were used to examine morphological traits. Four roots were used for quantification of dry matter and secondary metabolites. Root length was reduced by 21%, 14% and 20% when competing with a weed in the V0-V3, V0-V6 and R2-R6 coexistence periods, respectively. Total phenol content in the V0-V6 and V0-R2 periods was reduced when plants were in competition with weeds; a similar trend was found for flavonoids in the V0-V6 period. Soybean-horseweed competition from crop emergence to the V6 stage, in general, affects shoot and root morphological traits and the biochemical composition of the soybean roots. The presence of horseweed at the V3, V6 and R2 stages does not negatively alter the traits evaluated. Root anatomical composition is not modified during all coexistence periods with horseweed.

Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) polymorphism and adaptability trait during infancy: a longitudinal study in 1- to 5-month-old neonates.

We have examined the relationship between the common dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III repeat polymorphism and infants' behavior measured with the Italian version of the Early and Revised Infancy Temperament Questionnaires (EITQ/RITQ) in 122 Italian neonates at 1 and 5 months of life, when the genetic contribution to the behavior can be more clearly assessed. Two-way (genotype x age) analysis of variance revealed a significant correlation with the temperamental subscale of adaptability [F(1, 120) = 5.26, P < 0.02]. At 1 month of life (early assessment), infants with long (L) DRD4 alleles presented significantly low scores (L 2.61 +/- 0.073; S 2.84 + 0.79; Newman-Keuls P = 0.03) in comparison with the high scores of infants with short (S) alleles (L 2.4 +/- 0.059; S 2.25 +/- 0.57). These differences were not detected at 5 months of life (late assessment), denoting a strong environmental effect at this age on the genetic background. These results confirm and extend the genetic influence of the DRD4 gene in human temperament at birth.

Interfacing U.S. census map files with statistical graphics software: application and use in epidemiology.

In 1990, the United States Bureau of the Census released detailed geographic map files known as TIGER/Line (Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing). The TIGER files, accessible through purchase or federal repository libraries, contain 24 billion characters of data describing various geographic features including coastlines, hydrography, transportation networks, political boundaries, etc. for the entire United States. Many of these physical features are of potential interest in epidemiological case studies. Unfortunately, the TIGER data base only provides raw alphanumeric data; no utility software, graphical or otherwise, is included. Recently, the S statistical software package has been extended to include a map display function. The map function augments S's high-level approach towards statistical analysis and graphical display of data. Coupling this statistical software with the map data base developed for U.S. Census data collection will facilitate epidemiological research. We discuss the technical background necessary to utilize the TIGER data base for mapping with S. Two types of S maps, segment-based and polygon-based, are discussed along with methods to construct them from TIGER data. Polygon-based maps are useful for displaying regional statistical data, such as disease rates or incidence at the census tract level. Segment-based maps are easier to assemble and are appropriate when the data are not regionalized. Census tract data of AIDS incidence in San Francisco and lung cancer case locations relative to petrochemical refinery sites in Contra Costa County are used to illustrate the methods and potential uses of interfacing the TIGER data base with S.