Individual Cross Research Articles

An elucidation of over a century old enigma in genetics-Heterosis.

Recognition and exploitation of hybrid vigor or heterosis among individual crosses of plants and animals has a long and distinguished history. Its manifestation is influenced by a combination of genetic, epigenetic, phenotypic, and environmental factors. Although heterosis is known to be governed by both dominant and epistatic gene action, its expression is greatly influenced by nonlinear interaction among epigenetic and phenotypic (phenomic) components. The magnitude of heterosis is generally inferred post hoc by the phenotypic performance of hybrids among laboriously made individual crosses. The expression of dominance, however, is nonlinear at the cellular level and obeys the principles underlying metabolic flux. Then, is it possible to exploit these relationships to predict heterosis? Vasseur and colleagues have indeed demonstrated the feasibility of such an approach in a series of experiments taking integrated biochemical and computational approaches, as well as testing these results on large samples of model organisms. The results offer promise toward phenomic prediction of heterosis across a wide array of organisms.

The Effect of Temperature Changes on Vertical Deflections of Metal Rail Bridge Constructions Determined by the Ground Based Radar Interferometry Method

The paper describes possibilities of the relative new technique – ground based radar interferometry for precise determining of the effect of temperature changes on vertical deflections of metal bridge structures.The ground based radar interferometry method is used in practice, among other things, for the quick contactless determination of vertical deflections of metallic railway bridge structures. The precision in deflection determination is up to 0.01 mm in real time. At the same time, it is also possible to capture and analyze the oscillation frequencies of the monitored object with a maximum frequency of up to 50 Hz. Deflections are determined at multiple points of the object at the same time, for example on individual cross beams. This allows to obtain both general and detailed information about the behaviour of the structure under its dynamic load and to monitor the impact of vehicle passages or their groups.Moreover, the ground based radar interferometry method is not sensitive to temperature changes. It can therefore to be used successfully to determine the effect of temperature changes on deflections and deformations of metallic objects, such as bridge structures. The influence of temperature changes is of two kinds. First, a direct effect on the very structure causes deformations due to thermal expansion of the metallic material. Furthermore, it is the effect on the character of the dynamic deformations caused by load changes - the transit of vehicles. This character varies with temperature, as demonstrated by experimental measurement in practice.Practical examples from practice documented by experimental measurements are given in the article. For example, at a 75m long metal bridge over a six-hour period with a temperature change of 25°C, a vertical deflection - lifting the bridge deck was about 9.5mm due to the thermal expansion of the material. There has been also a change in the nature of the dynamic deflections caused by train passes. At low night temperatures (about 14°C), deflections were much smoother than at high afternoon temperatures (about 39°C).

Geologic and Geochemical Features of Cretaceous Ge-Bearing Lignites in the Yenisei Middle Reaches

Abstract —Integrated geological and geochemical studies were performed for lignite from the Yenisei middle reaches, represented by carbonized fragments of trees with high germanium contents. Geochemical characteristics of terrigenous sediments with Ge-bearing lignite are determined. The chemical and mineral compositions, textures, and structures of carbonized wood fragments were studied. Scanning of individual cross sections of lignite fragments has revealed a regular distribution of germanium and impurity elements. Consistent patterns of the formation of Ge-containing lignites have been established, as well as the processes of their posthydrothermal transformation, which led to the impoverishment of the primary contents of the valuable component and to the input of a number of impurity elements. The latter formed rims over the lignite fragments and microveinlets with sulfide mineralization. The hypothesis has been put forward that germanium mineralization formed in lignites of the Kas basin, in particular, the Serchanskoe deposit.

Flux weighted average cross-sections of natNi(γ, x) reactions with the bremsstrahlung end-point energies of 55, 59, 61 and 65 MeV

We measured the flux weighted average cross-sections of the natNi(γ,xn)56,57Ni and natNi(γ, pxn)55,56,57,58Co reactions with the bremsstrahlung end-point energies of 55, 59, 61 and 65 MeV by using an activation cum off-line γ-ray spectrometric technique at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), Korea. The natNi(γ, xn) and natNi(γ, pxn) reaction cross-sections as a function of monoenergetic photon were calculated theoretically by using the computer code TALYS-1.8. The flux-weighted average cross-sections of the natNi(γ, xn) and natNi(γ, pxn) reactions from the present work were compared with the similar data from the literature as well as the theoretical values from the TALYS-1.8 code and the TENDL-2015 data library. Both the experimental and theoretical values increase sharply from the reaction threshold to a maximum value where the next reaction channel opens. After the maximum value, individual reaction cross section decreases slowly with increase of bremsstrahlung end-point energy, which may be due to the opening of other possible reaction channels.

Improved versions of rice maintainer line, APMS 6B, possessing two resistance genes, Xa21 and Xa38, exhibit high level of resistance to bacterial blight disease

APMS 6B is the stable maintainer of the CMS line APMS 6A, which is the female parent of the popular Indian rice hybrid DRRH 3. APMS 6B has good combining ability and plant stature but is highly susceptible to bacterial blight (BB) disease. In order to improve the BB resistance of APMS 6B, we pyramided two major, dominant BB resistance genes, Xa21 and Xa38, through marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB). Improved Samba Mahsuri (ISM) was used as the donor for Xa21 while PR 114 (Xa38) served as the donor for Xa38. Individual crosses [APMS 6B/ISM and APMS 6B/PR 114 (Xa38)] were performed, and true F1 plants were then backcrossed with APMS 6B and the MABB process was continued till BC3. A single positive BC3F1 plant identified from both the crosses with maximum genotypic and phenotypic similarity with APMS 6B was selfed to generate BC3F2s. At BC3F2 generation, plants homozygous for either Xa21 or Xa38 were identified and further confirmed for the absence of two major fertility restorer genes, Rf3 and Rf4. A single such homozygous BC3F2 plant, each from both the crosses, was then inter-mated to generate ICF1s (inter-cross F1s). Selected ICF1 plants possessing both the BB resistance genes were selfed to generate ICF2s. A total of 42 ICF2 plants homozygous for both Xa21 and Xa38 were identified and screened with parental polymorphic SSR markers to identify the best F2 plants having the maximum recurrent parent genome recovery. Twelve best ICF2 plants were advanced up to ICF5. The ICF5 lines displayed very high level of BB resistance and were similar to APMS 6B in terms of agro-morphological characters. Further, most of these lines also showed complete maintenance ability and such lines are being advanced for conversion to WA-CMS lines.

Electron impact ionization of 1-butanol: I. Mass spectra and partial ionization cross sections

Experimental measurements of the cations created through electron impact ionization have been undertaken for the primary isomer of butanol, using a Hiden Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (EPIC 300) with a mass resolution of 1 amu. The mass spectrum recorded at an incident electron energy of 70 eV, normalized and placed on an absolute scale, reveals the relative probability of forming 76 different cations of butanol by either direct ionization or dissociative ionization. Individual partial ionization cross sections (PICS) for the 38 main cationic fragments, measured at electron energies in the range 10–100 eV, are also reported for the first time in this work.

BREEDING OF CUCUMBER IN SIBNIIRS (Siberian Research Institute of Plant Industry and Breeding) – HISTORY, RESULTS, PROSPECTS

The main stages of the development of cucumber selection studies in the laboratory of seed selection and technology of cultivation of vegetable cultures of SibNIIRS for more than 40 years are presented. The severe climatic conditions of the region, the lack of a regionalized assortment, the high cost of cucumber products imported from other regions makes the task of creating local adapted varieties and hybrids very relevant. Particular attention in the laboratory is devoted to the study of the source material. More than 600 initial forms of different eco-geographical origin have been studied, and the best ones have been selected for use in breeding. The main directions in the selection of cucumber for open ground are precocity, yield, resistance to diseases, marketability of greenery, high technological properties. The main methods of selection are individual, mass selection, simple, complex hybridization, saturating and recurrent crossings, inbreeding. The State Register of Selection Achievements approved for the use of 3 bee-dusted varieties and 18 hetherosis parthenocarpic hybrids was created and introduced. An extensive linear material of various sexual types has been accumulated for heterotic selection of cucumber. In 2017 Siberian Research Institute of Plant Industry and Breeding was begin the cooperation on the creation of new varieties and hybrids of cucumber with LLC Geterosisnaya Selectiya. Preliminary results were obtained for nine lines of cucumber. Three samples with high yield and early maturity are revealed.

Mosquito pornoscopy: Observation and interruption of Aedes aegypti copulation to determine female polyandric event and mixed progeny.

Ades aegypti is the most important arbovirus vector in the world, and new strategies are under evaluation. Biological studies mentioning the occurrence of a second mate in Aedes aegypti can interfere with vector control program planning, which involves male mosquito release technique. This study presents different experiments to show the occurrence of mixed progeny. Mixed male crosses (using a combination of different type of males in confinement with virgin females) showed no polyandric female. Individual crosses with male substitution in every gonotrophic cycle also did not show any polyandric female. Individual crosses with a 20 minutes interval, with subsequent male change, showed that only a few females presented mixed offspring. The copulation breach in three different moments, group A with full coitus length, group B the coitus was interrupted in 5–7 seconds after the start; and group C, which the copulation was interrupted 3 seconds after started. In summary, group A showed a majority of unique progeny from the first male; group B showed the higher frequency of mixed offspring and group C with the majority of the crosses belonging to the second male. To conclude, the occurrence of a viable second mate and mixed offspring is only possible when the copulation is interrupted; otherwise, the first mate is responsible for mixed progeny.

Impact of mathcal {CP}-violating interference effects on MSSM Higgs searches

Interference and mixing effects between neutral Higgs bosons in the MSSM with complex parameters are shown to have a significant impact on the interpretation of LHC searches for additional Higgs bosons. Complex MSSM parameters introduce mixing between the mathcal {CP}-even and mathcal {CP}-odd Higgs states h, H, A into the mass eigenstates h_1, h_2, h_3 and generate mathcal {CP}-violating interference terms. Both effects are enhanced in the case of almost degenerate states. Employing as an example an extension of a frequently used benchmark scenario by a non-zero phase phi _{A_t}, the interference contributions are obtained for the production of neutral Higgs bosons in gluon-fusion and in association with b-quarks followed by the decay into a pair of tau -leptons. While the resonant mixing increases the individual cross sections for the two heavy Higgs bosons h_2 and h_3, strongly destructive interference effects between the contributions involving h_2 and h_3 leave a considerable parameter region unexcluded that would appear to be ruled out if the interference effects were neglected.

Adaptive geometry transformation and repair for hybrid manufacturing

In recent years, hybrid manufacturing has transitioned from research and development to commercially available industrial machine tools. This proliferation has led to a growing interest in the unique capabilities of these machines. Manufacturers in the mold and die, oil and gas, and aerospace industries are investigating hybrid manufacturing as a means of repairing high value components to reduce operating costs. As these parts become worn or damaged and taken out of service, each has its own unique distorted and worn geometry, and requires a distinct repair plan. This requires the repair strategy for these components to adapt to these fluctuations in geometry by modifying the re-manufacturing process on a part by part basis. This paper details a method of model transformation for adaptive part repair for use in a commercial hybrid manufacturing system. Nominal CAD geometry of the component is transformed based on data captured from the actual part geometry in a two-step process. The nominal geometry is first rigidly registered to the measured part data using an iterative algorithm. Then, individual cross sections of the nominal model are then deformed to match the actual data. After this transformation, final profile geometry can be constructed by using these informed transformations. This overall hybrid repair framework is shown to be of high accuracy and capable of yielding significant improvements in material usage efficiency and processing time compared to conventional repair approaches.

Clonal structure and variable fertilization success in Florida Keys broadcast-spawning corals

Keystone reef-building corals in the Caribbean are predominantly self-incompatible broadcast spawners and a majority are threatened due to both acute adult mortality and poor recruitment. As population densities decline, concerns about fertilization limitation and effective population size in these species increase and would be further exacerbated by either high clonality or gametic incompatibility of parental genotypes. This study begins to address these concerns for two Caribbean broadcasting species by characterizing clonal structure and quantifying experimental pairwise fertilization success. Orbicella faveolata showed surprisingly high and contrasting levels of clonality between two sampled sites; Acropora palmata was previously known to be highly clonal. Individual pairwise crosses of synchronously spawning genotypes of each species were conducted by combining aliquots of gamete bundles immediately after spawning, and showed high and significant variability in fertilization success. Over half of the individual crosses of O. faveolata and about one-third of A. palmata crosses yielded ≤ 40% fertilization. Total sperm concentration was quantified in only a subset of O. faveolata crosses (range of 1–6 × 107 mL−1), but showed no correlation with fertilization success. We interpret that both parental incompatibility and individual genotypes with low-quality gametes are likely to have contributed to the variable fertilization observed with important implications for conservation. Differential fertilization success implies effective population size may be considerably smaller than hoped and population enhancement efforts need to incorporate many more parental genotypes at the patch scale to ensure successful larval production than indicated by estimates based simply on preserving levels of standing genetic diversity.

Impact of Postsynthetic Surface Modification on Photoluminescence Intermittency in Formamidinium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystals.

We study the origin of photoluminescence (PL) intermittency in formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3, FA = HC(NH2)2) nanocrystals and the impact of postsynthetic surface treatments on the PL intermittency. Single-dot spectroscopy revealed the existence of different individual nanocrystals exhibiting either a blinking (binary on-off switching) or flickering (gradual undulation) behavior of the PL intermittency. Although the PL lifetimes of blinking nanocrystals clearly correlate with the individual absorption cross sections, those of flickering nanocrystals show no correlation with the absorption cross sections. This indicates that flickering has an extrinsic origin, which is in contrast to blinking. We demonstrate that the postsynthetic surface treatment with sodium thiocyanate improves the PL quantum yields and completely suppresses the flickering, while it has no significant effect on the blinking behavior. We conclude that the blinking is caused by Auger recombination of charged excitons, and the flickering is due to a temporal drift of the exciton recombination rate induced by surface-trapped electrons.

The Oxylipin Pathways: Biochemistry and Function.

Plant oxylipins form a constantly growing group of signaling molecules that comprise oxygenated fatty acids and metabolites derived therefrom. In the last decade, the understanding of biosynthesis, metabolism, and action of oxylipins, especially jasmonates, has dramatically improved. Additional mechanistic insights into the action of enzymes and insights into signaling pathways have been deepened for jasmonates. For other oxylipins, such as the hydroxy fatty acids, individual signaling properties and cross talk between different oxylipins or even with additional phytohormones have recently been described. This review summarizes recent understanding of the biosynthesis, regulation, and function of oxylipins.

The anatomy and clinical applications of flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer in treatment of chronic Achilles tendinopathy

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of flexor hallucis longus tendon transfer in treatment of chronic Achilles tendinopathy using different technique. Methods Sixty-four embalmed feet of 32 cadavers were analyzed and classified anatomically with respect to the individual cross links in the Henry's knot. These three techniques were then combined to determine the total potential tendon graft length obtainable using single incision, double incision and minimally invasive incision. From January, 2012 to June, 2015, 10 patients (10 feet) with chronic Achilles tendinopathy were treated with double incision technique. The score was 63.04 ±7.75 according to American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score system. Results Only two different configurations were found. Type 1, a tendinous slip branched from the FHLT to the FDLT was 96.9% (62 of 64 feet) . Type 2, a slip branched from the FHLT to the FDLT and another slip from the FDLT to FHLT was 3.1% (2 of 64) . The average length of the FHLT graft available from a single incision measured (5.08±1.09) cm, double incision technique measured (6.72 ± 1.02) cm, and minimally invasive incision measured (17.49 ± 1.80) cm. The difference between the lengths obtained from these three techniques was statistically significant. Ten patients were followed-up 12-36 months (mean, 13.7 months) . At 12 months after operation, the AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score was 93.28 ± 3.72, showing significant difference when compared with that before operation. The results were excellent in 6 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case with an excellent and good rate of 90%. No sural nerve injury, posterior tibial nerve injury, medial plantar nerve injury, and lateral plantar nerve injury occurred. Conclusion In over 96% of the feet, a proximal to distal connection from the FHLT to the FDLT was found, which might contribute to the residual function of the lesser toes after FDLT transfer. The distal stump of the FHLT tendon should be sutured onto the FDLT tendon under tension to enable a co-activation of the great toe, preserved hallux plantar flexion. Chronic Achilles tendinopathy reconstruction with flexor hallucis longus tendon harvested using double incision technique offers a desirable outcome in operative recovery, tendon fixation, preserved hallux plantar flexion and less complications. Key words: Flexor hallucis longus; Flexor digitorum longus; Achilles tendon disorders; Tendon transfer

A Theoretical Study on the Dynamics of O(3P) + H2S(1A1) Reaction on an Interpolated Potential Energy Surface

Quasi-classical trajectory calculations at the DFT level and CVT calculations at the CCSD(T) level are performed to study the dynamics of O(3P) + H2S(1A1) reaction on the lowest triplet potential energy surface. In the dynamics part the potential energy surface has been constructed by interpolation technique following the method introduced by Collins and his coworkers. Total and individual classical reactive cross sections are calculated at collision energies from 13.1 to 126.0 kJ mol−1. The rate constants from QCT calculation are compared with those calculated from canonical variational transition state theory at the G3(MP2)B3 and CCSD(T)/Aug-cc-pVTZ levels. The energy partitioning in reactive collisions for the formation of main products (OH + SH and H + HSO) and in non-reactive collisions for the reactants is investigated. At 52.5 kJ mol−1 initial collision energy about 42% and 49% of the total available energy goes into the translational energy and internal motions of H + HSO products, respectively, w...

A Theoretical Study on the Dynamics of the Reaction of CH Radicals with Water.

Quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) and RRKM-SSA calculations are carried out to gain insight into the dynamics of the title reaction. The barrier-less initiation step in this system is governed by the capture probability in the entrance channel to form an energized adduct once the centrifugal barrier is surmounted. The dynamics of the title reaction on its lowest doublet electronic state is studied at the DFT level of MPWB1K/6-31++g(2df,2p). An iteratively modified Shepard interpolation technique implemented in the GROW program suite was used to construct a global potential energy surface for the title reaction. The total and individual cross sections for the main products and corresponding reaction probabilities as a function of initial collision energy ranging from 0.4 kJ mol-1 to 52.5 kJ mol-1 are calculated. These data are used to calculate the total rate constant for the title reaction by means of collision theory. Our calculated QCT rate constant is compared with the calculated rate constant from RRKM-SSA method at the CCSD(T)/Aug-cc-pVTZ//MP2/6-31++g(2df,2p) level. The energy partitioning for the main products CH2O + H and HCOH + H and also for the reactants after nonreactive collisions as a function of initial collision energy are discussed.

Block Crossings in Storyline Visualizations

Storyline visualizations help visualize encounters of the characters in a story over time. Each character is represented by an x-monotone curve that goes from left to right visualizing progression of time. A meeting is represented by having the characters that participate in the meeting run close together for some time. In order to keep the visual complexity low, rather than just minimizing pairwise crossings of curves, we propose to count block crossings, that is, pairs of intersecting bundles of lines. In a block crossing, two blocks of parallel lines intersect each other, which is less distracting than the same number of individual crossings being spread over the drawing. In this paper, we show that minimizing the number of block crossings is NP-hard, even if all meetings are of size 2. For this special case, we present a greedy heuristic, which we evaluate experimentally. We show that the general case is fixed-parameter tractable. Our main results is a constant-factor approximation algorithm for meetings of bounded size. The algorithm is based on (approximately) solving a hyperedge deletion problem on hypergraphs that may be of independent interest.

Electron impact ionization of 1-propanol

Experimental measurements of the cations created in electron impact ionization have been undertaken for the primary isomer of propanol using a Hidden Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (EPIC 300), with a mass resolution of 1amu. The mass spectra recorded at an incident electron energy of 70eV reveals the relative probability of forming 50 different cations, by either direct ionization or dissociative ionization. Individual partial ionization cross sections (PICS) for 31 different cations were measured for the first time in this work, for the incident electron energy range from 10 to 100eV. Also, appearance energies (AEs) and Wannier exponents for the 16 most intense cations formed in electron collisions with 1-propanol are reported. Where possible, those results are compared to those from an earlier investigation. Total Ionization Cross Sections (TICS) were also obtained from the sum of the measured PICS, for nearly all cations measured, and are compared to relevant data reported in the literature. In addition, as a part of this study, theoretical TICS were calculated using the Binary-encounter Bethe (BEB) and independent atom model with screening corrected additivity rule (IAM–SCAR) methods. Good agreement between current measured and calculated TICSs and corresponding earlier results was typically found.

Fiber breakage behavior of long glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene through the convergent channel

Fiber breakage occurs during the processing of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, thereby resulting in the deterioration of the mechanical properties of the thermoplastic parts. In this paper, the fiber breakage and flow behavior of long glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene containing 30 wt% glass fibers was investigated through a series of conical capillary die at varying shear rates, conical die angles or diameters, and the melt flow index of polypropylene. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was employed to observe individual fiber cross sections to analyze the mechanism of fiber breakage, of which the conical capillary die geometry dominantly affected the residual fiber length, and the choice of an appropriate geometry most significantly affected improvements in the residual fiber length. The results also indicated an increase in the extent of fiber breakage following an increase in the shear rates. In addition, long glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene also generated a slightly higher average fiber length following an increase in the melt-flow index of polypropylene. Pressure oscillations were observed at the entrance, of which these pressure accumulations and releases affected fiber interactions and breakage at the entrance.

Dynamical Cluster-decay Model (DCM) applied to 9Li+208Pb reaction

The decay mechanism of 217At⁎ formed in Li9+208Pb reaction is studied within the dynamical cluster-decay model (DCM) at various center-of-mass energies. The aim is to see the behavior of a light neutron-rich radioactive beam on a doubly-magic target nucleus for the (total) fusion cross section σfus and the individual decay channel cross sections. Experimentally, only the isotopic yield of heavy mass residues At⁎211–214 [equivalently, the light-particles (LPs) evaporation residue cross sections σxn for x=3–6 neutrons emission] are measured, with the fusion–fission (ff) component σff taken zero. For a fixed neck-length parameter ΔR, the only parameter in the DCM, we are able to fit σfus=∑x=16σxn almost exactly for 9Li on 208Pb at all Ec.m.'s. However, the observed individual decay channels (3n–6n) are very poorly fitted, with unobserved channels (1n, 2n) and σff strongly over-estimated. Different ΔR values, meaning thereby different reaction time scales, are required to fit individually both the observed and unobserved evaporation residue channels (1n–6n) and σff, but then the compound nucleus (CN) contribution σCN is very small (<1%), and the non-compound nucleus (nCN) decay cross section σnCN contributes the most towards total σfus (=σCN+σnCN). Thus, the 9Li induced reaction on doubly-magic 208Pb is more of a quasi-fission-like nCN decay, which is further analyzed in terms of the statistical CN formation probability PCN and CN survival probability Psurv. For the reaction under study, PCN<<1 and Psurv→1, in particular at above barrier energies.