Hybrids Research Articles

Are electric vehicles riskier? A comparative study of driving behaviour and insurance claims for internal combustion engine, hybrid and electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) differ significantly from their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, with reduced mechanical parts, Lithium-ion batteries and differences in pedal and transmission control. These differences in vehicle operation, coupled with the proliferation of EVs on our roads, warrant an in-depth investigation into the divergent risk profiles and driving behaviour of EVs, Hybrids (HYB) and ICEs. In this unique study, we analyze a novel telematics dataset of 14,642 vehicles in the Netherlands accompanied by accident claims data. We train a Logistic Regression model to predict the occurrence of driver at-fault claims, where an at-fault claim refers to First and Third Party damages where the driver was at fault. Our results reveal that EV drivers are more exposed to incurring at-fault claims than ICE drivers despite their lower average mileage. Additionally, we investigate the financial implications of these increased at-fault claims likelihoods and have found that EVs experience a 6.7% increase in significant first-party damage costs compared to ICE. When analyzing driver behaviour, we found that EVs and HYBs record fewer harsh acceleration, braking, cornering and speeding events than ICE. However, these reduced harsh events do not translate to reducing claims frequency for EVs. This research finds evidence of a higher frequency of accidents caused by Electric Vehicles. This burden should be considered explicitly by regulators, manufacturers, businesses and the general public when evaluating the cost of transitioning to alternative fuel vehicles.

Feeding Habits and Diet Overlap between Brown Trout Lineages from the Danube Basin of Croatia

Brown trout of non-native lineages have been stocked into Croatian streams and rivers primarily to meet angler demand. The diet of brown trout in the Black Sea Basin of Croatia is poorly understood, and there are no studies examining feeding competition between the Atlantic (AT) and Danube (DA) lineages of brown trout and their hybrids (HY). The aim of this study was to examine the natural diet of brown trout of both lineages and their hybrids and to compare feeding overlap. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to investigate the relationships between feeding habits of fish from different streams and of different genetic origin. The differences in variation of the consumed prey items were analysed by canonical variate analysis, and diet overlap was assessed by the Schoener index. The results indicate that stocked brown trout (AT) adapt rapidly to new habitat and food, as revealed by the consumption of a wide range of available food items and competition for food and space by taking on the feeding behaviour of wild native conspecifics. Diet overlap was also detected between brown trout of the DA and AT lineages. This study highlights the need to implement control measures to preserve and protect the native diversity of this species.

Hybrid Versus Autochthonous Turkey Populations: Homozygous Genomic Regions Occurrences Due to Artificial and Natural Selection.

Simple SummaryIn this study we investigate the genomic differentiation of traditional Mexican turkey breeds and commercial hybrid strains. The analysis aimed to identify the effects of different types of selection on the birds’ genome structure. Mexican turkeys are characterized by an adaptive selection to their specific original environment; on the other hand, commercial hybrid strains are directionally selected to maximize productive traits and to reduce production costs. The Mexican turkeys were grouped in two geographic subpopulations, while high genomic homogeneity was found in hybrid birds. Traditional breeds and commercial strains are clearly differentiated from a genetic point of view. Inbreeding coefficients were here calculated with different approaches. A clear effect of selection for productive traits was recorded.The Mexican turkey population is considered to be the descendant of the original domesticated wild turkey and it is distinct from hybrid strains obtained by the intense artificial selection activity that has occurred during the last 40 years. In this study 30 Mexican turkeys were genomically compared to 38 commercial hybrids using 327,342 SNP markers in order to elucidate the differences in genome variability resulting from different types of selection, i.e., only adaptive for Mexican turkey, and strongly directional for hybrids. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) were detected and the two inbreeding coefficients (F and FROH) based on genomic information were calculated. Principal component and admixture analyses revealed two different clusters for Mexican turkeys (MEX_cl_1 and MEX_cl_2) showing genetic differentiation from hybrids (HYB) (FST equal 0.168 and 0.167, respectively). A total of 3602 ROH were found in the genome of the all turkeys populations. ROH resulted mainly short in length and the ROH_island identified in HYB (n = 9), MEX_cl_1 (n = 1), and MEX_cl_2 (n = 2) include annotated genes related to production traits: abdominal fat (percentage and weight) and egg characteristics (egg shell color and yolk weight). F and FROH resulted correlated to each other only for Mexican populations. Mexican turkey genomic variability allows us to separate the birds into two subgroups according to the geographical origin of samples, while the genomic homogeneity of hybrid birds reflected the strong directional selection occurring in this population.

Hybrids as potential mediators spreading non‐native genes: Comparison of survival, growth, and movement among native, introduced and their hybrid salmonids

AbstractComparing multiple fitness components and potential movement of wild hybrids with their parental species is necessary to fully understand the consequences of human‐mediated introgression, but studies tracking both parental species and their hybrids at the individual‐level are limited. Here, we compared growth, survival and movement of sympatric introduced brook trout (BT: Salvelinus fontinalis) and native white‐spotted charr (WSC: S. leucomaenis) with their hybrids (HYB) in a northern Japanese stream, using mark‐recapture data (1,087 marked individuals) collected over 4 years (2013–2016). The mark‐recapture data with a single cohort showed that HYB had a comparable or even higher growth rate to BT and WSC. In addition, there is no evidence that hybrid survival was lower than both parental species throughout the entire study period. Furthermore, HYB showed high mobility equivalent to WSC, while BT showed the lowest mobility. Although our previous studies have documented the reduction of BT distribution and lowered reproductive success of HYB, non‐native genes can pose a threat to native WSC via relatively high survival, growth and/or mobility of HYB.

USE OF INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATION IN THE BREEDING OF ADAPTIVE HYBRIDS AND SORTS OF GARDEN CHRYSANTHEMUM (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.)

Many garden chrysanthemums bred across the world are not fully winter hardy. Many are damaged by fungal diseases due to a high humidity and are late flowering. This makes them unsuitable for general commercial marketing. Since 2000 we have been conducting a breeding program using natural species of the genus Chrysanthemum that are adapted to the local conditions. The strategy of breeding adaptive hybrids and varieties of chrysanthemum native to Russia was proposed based on their biological, genetic peculiarities and natural resources of Chrysanthemum with the use of interspecific hybridization. Research objects are the first generations of interspecific hyb rids of F1obtained previously by the author as a result of the hybridization of varieties and wild species of Chrysanthemum. Derived from different species and varieties, F1hybrids were crossed among themselves to obtain the multicomponent F2progeny. F2seedlings with winter hardiness, resistance to Puccinia horiana Henn. and early flowering were used in closely related crosses. The offspring of F3from closely related crosses were also assessed and selected according to adaptive and decorative characteristics. Inclusion in the selection process of various sources of winter hardiness and resistance to P. horiana allowed positive characteristics to be increased in F2and to be revealed in F3. Adaptive signs of the wild species Chrysanthemum naktongense Nakai, C. coreanum (H. Lév. et Vaniot) Nakai, C. zawadzkii var. tenuisectum Kitag., C. leiophyllum Nakai, and C. zawadzkii subsp. acutilobum (DC.) Kitag., which have formed and fixed during evolution, were inherited and manifested in offspring of the multicomponent hybrids and the closely related crosses. Promising interspecific forms with biological signs determining the possibility of growing in extreme conditions of the subregion were selected.

Effects of Hybrid and Maturity Stage on in Vitro Rumen Digestibility of Immature Corn Grain

This study aimed to evaluate the influences of hybrids (HYB) and maturity stage (SAMP) on in vitro rumen digestibility of immature corn grain. Four HYB (Gigantic, Y43, Klips and 9575) from the FAO group 700 were grown under identical agronomic conditions. First sampling (T1) was done after 95 days from seedling and then 4, 8, 13, 18 and 27 days later (T2 to T6). In vitro starch digestibility (STD_7h) and gas production (72 h) were measured. Whole plant and grain dry matter (WP_DM and GR_DM, respectively) and zein content were significantly affected (P<0.01) by HYB and SAMP. Starch content was significantly affected by HYB, SAMP and their interaction. It increased from T1 to T4 (from 67.47 to 72.82% of GR_DM) and then tended to plateau. Concurrently, STD_7h significantly decreased with advancing SAMP and was also affected by HYB. With advancing maturity, total volatile fatty acids (VFA) significantly decreased, with an increase of acetate and a decrease of propionate molar proportion (P<0.01). Gas production rate (GP_c) was significantly affected by HYB, SAMP and HYB×SAMP. Whole plant grain DM correlated (P<0.01) positively with grain starch content (r=0.60 and 0.64) but negatively with STD_7h (r=-0.39 and r=-0.63) and VFA concentration (r=-0.59 and -0.75). Zein percentage in crude protein negatively affected (P<0.01) total DM (r=-0.65,), STD_7h (r=-0.73) and GP_c (r=-0.68). Results suggest that genotypes and maturity stages influence DM and rumen starch digestibility of immature corn grain and in this respect zein can play a significant role.

Sonochemical hybridization of carbon nanotubes with gold nanoparticles for the production of flexible transparent conducing films

We have demonstrated the fabrication of flexible, transparent, conducting multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/gold nanoparticle hybrid films with improved optoelectronic properties by combining the ionic liquid-assisted sonochemical method (ILASM) for hybrid synthesis with the vacuum filtration (VF) method for thin film preparation. Au nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters of 10.3±1.5nm were uniformly distributed onto the sidewalls of MWCNTs through ILASM, and flexible, transparent, conducting films of Au/MWCNT hybrids (HBs) were reproducibly fabricated by the VF method. In particular, the sheet resistance of Au-MWCNT-HB films was more than 2-fold lower than the sheet resistance of pristine MWCNT films due to the well-interconnected three-dimensional nanotube network structure and the synergistic effect of hybridization of MWCNTs with Au-NPs.

GENETIC CONTROL OF TENDRIL DISTRIBUTION IN A GRAPEVINE ROOTSTOCK HYBRID POPULATION

Grapevine tendril distribution is a characteristic of varieties and species. We examined the tendril distribution on a population of seedlings from a 161-49C x (V. labrusca x V. mustangensis) hybridization. 16149C is a V. riparia x V. berlandieri hybrid that ordinarily bears tendrils in a discontinuous pattern. Although the V. labrusca x V. mustangensis parent frequently demonstrates more than two tendrils in sequence, it does show nodes without tendrils and as such cannot be described as strictly continuous in its tendril distribution. Grapevine tendrils and clusters (inflorescences) are found at the node opposite a leaf. Cultivars and spe cies exhibit some variation in tendril distribution, the phyllotactic patterning of which nodes have tendrils (or clusters) and which do not. Most Vitis species and cultivars have two nodes with tendrils followed by a node without a tendril (Mullins et al., 1992; Gerrath et al., 1998). This pattern is called intermittent tendril distribution. However, in the North American species V. labrusca and some V. labrusca interspecific hy brids, a tendril is found at every node (continuous tendril distribution). Some interspecific hybrid cultivars have an intermediate tendril distribution, with more than two nodes in a row bearing tendrils, but with occasional tendril-free nodes. Cousins et al. (2005) reported exploratory studies in the genetic control of phyllotactic patterning. Here we report in-depth analysis of a population segregating for tendril distribution patterns.

Human IFN-alpha protein engineering: the amino acid residues at positions 86 and 90 are important for antiproliferative activity.

Human IFN-alpha is a family of structurally related proteins that exhibit a wide range of antiproliferative activities. To understand the structural basis for these different antiproliferative activities, eight recombinant human IFN-alpha hybrids (HY) of alpha21a/alpha2c (HY-4, HY-5) and mutants (site-directed mutagenesis (SDM)-1, 2 and cassette mutagenesis (CM)-1, 2, 3, and 4) have been expressed, purified, and characterized. The data showed that the amino acid region 81-95 is important for antiproliferative activity. Site-directed mutagenesis and cassette mutagenesis studies showed that if serine (S) 86 and asparagine (N) 90 were replaced by tyrosine (Y), the antiproliferative activity was increased. We have also observed that if Y86 was replaced by isoleucine (I), the antiproliferative activity was comparable. However, if Y86 was replaced by aspartic acid (D), lysine (K), or alanine (A), the antiproliferative activity was substantially decreased. Our results indicate that Y and/or I at position 86 and Y at position 90 are very important in antiproliferative activity of human IFN-alpha. Circular dichroism spectra showed that the amino acid replacements at position 86 did not change the secondary structure. Thus the biological activity changes among those mutants do not appear to be due to conformational changes. The results also suggest that hydrophobic residue(s) at position 86 may be important for the interaction of the molecule with its receptor. The competitive binding data correlated with the antiproliferative activity. The N-terminal region of the molecule and the hydrophobic residues (including Y and I) on the C-helix region at positions 86 and/or 90 are important for binding and antiproliferative activities of human IFN-alphas.

Progress in Controlled Breeding of Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, and Southern Flounder, P. lethostigma

ABSTRACT The sum mer floun der, Paralichthys dentatus, and the south ern floun der, P. lethostigma, are high value flat fish spe cies and im -por tant can di dates for com mer cial aquaculture in the east ern U.S. Wild-caught adults of both spe cies have been spawned ei ther nat u rally or by hor mone-in duc tion dur ing their first year in cap tiv ity, but spawn ing suc -cess and fre quency of vo li tional spawnings im proves with size/age and ha bit u a tion (>1.5 year) to cap tiv ity. Con trolled-en vi ron ment tanks (2.5-10 m3) sup plied with re cir cu lat ing sea wa ter (32-36 ppt) are used for photo -thermal con di tion ing of broodstock to fa cil i tate en vi ron men tal con trol, ob ser va tion, han dling, and feed ing. Stocking den si ties of 1.7-4.11 kg/m3and sex ra tios of 1-2 males:1 fe male are rec om mended, but op tima have not been de ter mined. In the sum mer floun der, com mer cial hatch er ies use hor mone-in duced spawn ing of photothermally con di tioned fish to sup -ply fingerlings year round. In tra mus cu lar im plan ta tion of a slow-re lease LHRHa pel let (dose ∼100 μg/kg) into fe males with max i mum fol li cle diameters >500 μm or with mean oocyte di am e ters rang ing from 258-456 μm in duces re pet i tive ovu la tion and spawn ing. Com mer cial culturists pres ently opt for strip spawn ing, us ing a “light ta ble” to es ti -mate time of ovu la tion, but hor mone-in duced vol un tary spawn ing and nat u ral spawn ing with out hor mone in duc tion could be come more prev a -lent with lon ger-term ac cli ma tion and do mes ti ca tion. In the south ern floun der, im plan ta tion of a slow-re lease LHRHa pel let (∼100 μg) has also in duced re pet i tive ovu la tion and spawn ing, al low ing mul ti ple strip spawn ing or vo li tional spawn ing in fe males with max i mum fol li cle di -am e ters > 500 μm. Large num bers of vi a ble em bryos have also been pro -duced through nat u ral spawn ing with out hor mone in duc tion. Through photothermal ma nip u la tion, the nat u ral spawn ing pe riod has been ex -tended by 2-3 months, but ad di tional stud ies are needed to pro duce fingerlings year round. A fun da men tal prob lem in the con trolled re pro -duc tion of both the sum mer floun der and south ern floun der is the vari -abil ity in num ber of eggs and the fer til ity rates among fe males and among con sec u tive spawns from the same fe male. More pre dict able rates of ovu la tion, as well as of fer til iza tion and hatch ing, are needed to lower costs of seed pro duc tion. Vari able spawn ing suc cess can be at trib -uted in large part to in con sis tent male per for mance and in ad e quate spermiation. Hor mone treat ments used to in duce ovu la tion in fe males have been in ef fec tive in in duc ing spermiation in males, and al ter na tive ther a pies are needed. In fe males, egg qual ity may pre sum ably be im -proved by op ti miz ing nutri tions, en vi ron men tal con di tion ing, and hor -mone doses and re lease rates. To date, adult broodstock are ob tained from the wild, and the po ten tial for se lec tive breed ing or for pro duc ing interspecific hy brids re mains un tapped.

Breeding for 2n egg production in haploid × species 2x potato hybrids

The identification of diploid(2x), Tuberosum haploid × wild species hybrids (HS) which produce high frequencies of 2n eggs and have good tuber appearance is important for obtaining 4x progeny from 2x × 2x crosses in potato. More than 1700 HS clones were screened for the occurrence and frequency of 2n eggs through 2x × 4x crosses during two pollination periods. The resulting seed/fruit provides an estimate of 2n egg frequency. About 650 HS clones produced 2n eggs; 63 had 10–114 seeds/fruit; and 27 were selected for good tuber type. There was a large variation in seed set after 2x × 4x crosses, both within and between clones. Comparison of fruit and seed set between the two pollination periods using the same 595 clones indicated that environmental factor significandy affected 2n egg frequency. The mode of 2n egg formation was mainly due to omission of the second meiotic division controlled by a recessive gene (os). The gene frequency foros varied from 0.28 to 0.76 among six, 2x taxa. Both additive and dominance variance were significant for seed set after 2x × 4x crosses. Narrow sense heritability was estimated as 0.24. The average degree of dominance was equal to 1.66 which could indicate overdominance. Alternatively, this could be due to linkage disequilibrium,i.e. pseudooverdominance. However, dominance variance was greater than the additive variance indicating recurrent selection can be useful for improving the frequency of 2n egg production in the 2x population. The selected individuals, based on their phenotypic performance, should be progeny tested to identify the best parents for use in the next cycle of recombination.

A new method of producing 4x hybrid true potato seed

New haploid-wild species hybrids (H-S) with desirable tuber type and 2n gamete production have been identified. They provide the opportunity for the production of inexpensive, 4x hybrid TPS from 2x×2x crosses. A proposed system to utilize plants producing either 2n eggs or 2n pollen is described. One H-S hybrid (female parent) would be selected for male fertility, self-incompatibility, high frequency of 2n eggs and no 2n pollen; an unrelated H-S (male parent) for male fertility and high 2n pollen production. In addition both parents would be selected for profuse flowering, attractiveness to bumblebees and other desirable characteristics. The male and female parents would be planted in alternate hills with bumblebees doing the pollinations. The elimination of emasculation, pollen collection, and hand pollination could reduce 4x hybrid TPS costs by more than 50 percent.

CHESTNUT BREEDING, TECHNIQUES AND RESULTS

Chestnut breeding, to develop vigorous, blight-resistant timber trees, began in the Division of Forest Pathology, Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, U. S. Department of Agriculture in 1909 and is continuing. In the period 1925–49 more than 6,000 hybrids were grown. About 40 percent of the total possible number of combinations of crosses between the L3 soecies of Casta have been made successfully, indicating the close relationship existing between the species. The period of receptivity of chestnut stigmas was determined as beginning a few days after the staminate catkins began to blossom, reaching its highest degree about 12 days later, and extending nearly three weeks. Pollinations made in the morning were more effective than those made in the afternoon. Attempts to obtain viable seed by self-pollinating pistillate flowers whose styles were clipped off failed; however, viable seed was obtained by cross- pollination. Tests designed to prevent insects from visiting flowering twigs on which all staminate flowers had been emasculated showed that chestnut is wind-pollinated. Exposed pollen on anthers is at first tacky, but air currents soon dry the pollen and, together with the movements of insects feeding on the pollen and nectar of the catkins, it is dislodged and is airborne. Inheritance of blight resistance probably is controlled by two pairs of genes. Early flower ing is dominant over late flowering. At Glenn Dale, Md., temperature departures from the mean for April, and occasionally for April and May, determine when flowering begins. Time of nut drop in chestnut is inherited without dominance. Time of flowering determines the time of nut drop. Size of nuts is inherited with incomplete dominance, tending to approach the nut size of the parent producing the smaller nuts. The everbearing character found in C. seguioii is inherited iii at least a 3 : 1 ratio in the second generation. First-generation hybrids from crossing a selection of C. mollissima with C. dentata appear promising for planting as forest-timber trees. On a poor site they have grown at the rate of 2.8 feet per year for 10 years. Their blight resistance is sufficient to warrant test ing them on forest sites. Scions of Japanese chestnut carrying the mutation “spineless” were grafted and later crossed with other Castauca species. The mutation “cracked-bark,” wherein the bark of chestnut trees begins to crack at the age of three or four years, was obtained in first- generation hybrids from a C. mollissimaC. dcntata cross. Stunted growth, a general drooping of the branches, and an increased susceptibility to blight and to winter injury are associated with cracked bark. An anomaly, “naked chestnut,” was observed in certain hy brids: the burrs stop developing at an early stage while the nuts continue normal develop ment, so that the green nuts are exposed. The anomaly occurs in certain years and probably is a nonheritable mutation. Chestnuts, chinkapins and hybrids graft readily, but are difficult to bud. Extensive investigations have failed to develop an efficient method of rooting cuttings.

HYBRIDIZATION OF THE PHEASANT AND FOWL

Pheasant males produced by crossing Mongolian pheasant males with Ringneck pheasant females were mated naturally and by artificial insemination with Dark Cornish and Silver Cornish females. Among 1,409 eggs, 3.48 percent exhibited development when incubated. The hatchability of these “fertile” eggs was 6.12 percent. One female and four male hy brids developed sufficiently to pip the shell. Two chicks died in the shell and both proved to be males. The remaining female and two male hybrids hatched and were raised to ma turity. The incubation period was 26 days. The behavior and general appearance was more pheasant-like than chicken-like. Body weight and tail feather length were intermediate between the parent species. The hybrids had none of the comb, wattle or earlobe char acteristics of the chicken parent. The ear tufts and velvety red feathered areas on the sides of the face of the pheasant sire were also absent. The shank color was slate like that of pheasants, and the spurs were intermediate in shape and location between the parent species. No sexual activity was observed and subsequent dissections showed infantile or degenerate gonads.