Map-based Analysis Research Articles

The roles of entrepreneurial university and regional conditions for graduate entrepreneurship: a configurational approach

ABSTRACT This study conceptualizes graduate entrepreneurship as a spatial phenomenon. Specifically, we explore how combinations of university-related (knowledge exchange intensity and entrepreneurship support) as well as regional conditions (economic prosperity and entrepreneurial culture) might explain the presence or absence of high graduate entrepreneurship as possible (or likely) explanations based on a configurational approach. We applied fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to a dataset using HE-BCIS (Higher Education-Business Community Interaction Survey) survey and the UK’s ONS (Office for National Statistics) data for England covering a five-year period, combined with map-based analysis to identify distinct pathways that explain the presence or absence of graduate entrepreneurship across different regions. Findings demonstrate that university-related and regional conditions can complement each other in different ways to explain high levels of graduate entrepreneurship, but absence of one can also suppress the effect of the other, resulting in the absence of high graduate entrepreneurship.

Towards a full wCDM map-based analysis for weak lensing surveys

ABSTRACT The next generation of weak lensing surveys will measure the matter distribution of the local universe with unprecedented precision, allowing the resolution of non-Gaussian features of the convergence field. This encourages the use of higher-order mass-map statistics for cosmological parameter inference. We extend the forward-modelling based methodology introduced in a previous forecast paper to match these new requirements. We provide multiple forecasts for the $w$CDM parameter constraints that can be expected from stage 3 and 4 weak lensing surveys. We consider different survey setups, summary statistics and mass map filters including wavelets. We take into account the shear bias, photometric redshift uncertainties, and intrinsic alignment. The impact of baryons is investigated and the necessary scale cuts are applied. We compare the angular power spectrum analysis to peak and minima counts as well as Minkowski functionals of the mass maps. We find a preference for Starlet over Gaussian filters. Our results suggest that using a survey setup with 10 instead of 5 tomographic redshift bins is beneficial. Adding cross-tomographic information improves the constraints on cosmology and especially on galaxy intrinsic alignment for all statistics. In terms of constraining power, we find the angular power spectrum and the peak counts to be equally matched for stage 4 surveys, followed by minima counts and the Minkowski functionals. Combining different summary statistics significantly improves the constraints and compensates the stringent scale cuts. We identify the most ‘cost-effective’ combination to be the angular power spectrum, peak counts and Minkowski functionals following Starlet filtering.

Evaluating Environmental Education Programs Using a Qualitative GIS Approach

Abstract: Environmental education (EE) programs commonly emphasize experiencing the place(s) where a program is located. Yet, program evaluations seldom map locations where participants demonstrate outcomes, whether during or after program experiences. To explore the value of including location in program assessment, we pilot a qualitative, map-based analysis to complement current evaluation efforts of an organization providing EE programs aimed at improving access to nature in suburban Lafayette, Colorado. Our preliminary findings suggest that youth participants with more exposure to programming demonstrated more prominent nature connection and health and wellness outcomes, especially in locations near Lafayette, illustrating how consideration of outcome locations adds nuance to EE program evaluation.

Tryptophan synthase ß subunit 1 affects stomatal phenotypes in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Stomata open in response to several environmental stimuli, such as light and low CO2. Plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase in guard cells plays a pivotal role for light-induced stomatal opening. In contrast, stomata close in response to the dark or plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA). However, molecular mechanisms of stomatal movements remain unclear. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of stomatal movements, we performed a genetic screen based on stomatal aperture-dependent weight decrease of detached leaves from EMS-treated Arabidopsis thaliana and isolated a rapid transpiration in detached leaves 2 (rtl2). The rtl2 mutant showed constitutive open-stomata phenotype with lower leaf temperature. ABA had no effect on stomatal aperture in rtl2. The rtl2 mutant also showed increased stomatal density, severe dwarf phenotype with pale green leaves and dark veins. Map-based analysis of the RTL2 locus revealed that the rtl2 mutant possesses a single nucleotide substitution, which induces amino acid substitution Gly162 to Glu in the tryptophan synthase ß subunit 1 (TSB1). The TSB1 encodes an enzyme in tryptophan (Trp) biosynthetic pathway. Amount of TSB1 protein was drastically reduced in rtl2 mutant. A different allele of tsb1 mutant (tsb1-1) also showed constitutive open-stomata phenotype with reduced TSB1 protein as in rtl2. Analyses of test-crossed plants of rtl2 and tsb1-1 showed open-stomata and dwarf phenotypes. These results indicate that a responsible gene for rtl2 is TSB1. We further investigated stomatal phenotype in mutants from Trp biosynthetic pathway, such as wei2-1 wei7-1, trp3-1, and tsb2-1. The trp3-1 mutant showed significant wider stomatal aperture as well as tsb1-1. Trp biosynthetic pathway closely relates to auxin biosynthesis. Then, we investigated auxin responsible genes and found that an expression of AUR3 was up in rtl2. In contrast, auxin had no effect on stomatal aperture in Arabidopsis and the phosphorylation status of PM H+-ATPase in guard cell protoplasts from Vicia faba. In addition, auxin antagonist had no effect on stomatal aperture. Interestingly, tsb1-1 grown under hydroponic culture system showed normal stomatal aperture by exogenously application of Trp. These results suggest that open stomata phenotype in tsb1-1 is due to Trp deficiency but not auxin.

Anthropogenic legacies shaping the present composition of demarcation trees in a temperate upland field landscape in Japan

BackgroundIsolated trees are often planted in agricultural landscapes around the world, but their planting background often remains unclear. In this study, we examined the history of demarcation trees in Ibaraki Prefecture in eastern Japan by using land dispute records mainly from the early modern period (from 1600 to 1868), the Rapid Survey Map (RSM) drawn in the late nineteenth century, demarcation tree records from 2011, and interviews of the local residents.MethodsWe reviewed 39 documents on land disputes to examine the temporal and spatial usage of demarcation tree species in the early modern period. The association between the present distribution of 1486 individuals of six demarcation tree species and past land use in the RSM were analyzed with Fisher’s exact test and residual analysis. In addition, we conducted interviews with 48 farmers, most of whom were over 60 years old.ResultsThe demarcation plants in vast communal lands and village boundaries in the early modern period were mostly visually prominent tall trees, usually pines. In contrast, smaller trees were planted for demarcation in small-scale areas of forests and farmlands. Although Pourthiaea villosa (Thunb.) DC. Has been planted since the mid-eighteenth century, its planting seems to have accelerated as communal forests were divided mainly in the Meiji period (from 1868 to 1912). The present dominant state of Deutzia crenata Siebold et Zucc. in older farmlands and its ritual use, history of upland field development in the Kanto region, and ancient demarcation use in central Japan indicate its original use may date back to the medieval (from 1185 to 1600) or ancient ritsuryo period (from the seventh century to 1185). Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) and mulberry (Morus spp.) individuals were considered as early modern or modern crop remnants. Results from the map-based analysis and interviews clarified the recent increase in the use of Euonymus japonicus Thunb. and Celtis sinensis Pers. for demarcation.ConclusionsChronologically dynamic anthropogenic legacies have shaped the present agricultural landscape with different demarcation tree species. A better understanding of the dynamic transformation of vegetation under human influence adds to the historical heritage value of the landscape and should motivate its conservation.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential of Cissampelos pareira L. identified by connectivity map-based analysis and in vitro studies

BackgroundViral infections have a history of abrupt and severe eruptions through the years in the form of pandemics. And yet, definitive therapies or preventive measures are not present. Herbal medicines have been a source of various antiviral compounds such as Oseltamivir, extracted using shikimic acid from star anise (Illicium verum) and Acyclovir from Carissa edulis are FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved antiviral drugs. In this study, we dissect the anti-coronavirus infection activity of Cissampelos pareira L (Cipa) extract using an integrative approach.MethodsWe analysed the signature similarities between predicted antiviral agents and Cipa using the connectivity map (https://clue.io/). Next, we tested the anti-SARS-COV-2 activity of Cipa in vitro. Molecular docking analyses of constituents of with key targets of SARS-CoV2 protein viz. spike protein, RNA‑dependent RNA‑polymerase (RdRp) and 3C‑like proteinase. was also performed. A three-way comparative analysis of Cipa transcriptome, COVID-19 BALF transcriptome and CMAP signatures of small compounds was also performed.ResultsSeveral predicted antivirals showed a high positive connectivity score with Cipa such as apcidin, emetine, homoharringtonine etc. We also observed 98% inhibition of SARS-COV-2 replication in infected Vero cell cultures with the whole extract. Some of its prominent pure constituents e.g. pareirarine, cissamine, magnoflorine exhibited 40–80% inhibition. Comparison of genes between BALF and Cipa showed an enrichment of biological processes like transcription regulation and response to lipids, to be downregulated in Cipa while being upregulated in COVID-19. CMAP also showed that Triciribine, torin-1 and VU-0365114–2 had positive connectivity with BALF 1 and 2, and negative connectivity with Cipa. Amongst all the tested compounds, Magnoflorine and Salutaridine exhibited the most potent and consistent strong in silico binding profiles with SARS-CoV2 therapeutic targets.

Differences in cerebral blood flow measurement using arterial spin labeling MRI between patients with moyamoya disease and patients with arteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease.

It is unclear whether the accuracy of arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the same between moyamoya disease (MMD), which is known to have markedly elevated cerebral blood volume (CBV), and atherosclerotic intracranial arterial stenosis (AS), which has relatively less elevated CBV. To investigate how the differences in hemodynamics affect measurement of ASL-cerebral blood flow (CBF) using ASL for patients with MMD and AS. Fourteen MMD and ten AS patients were evaluated with ASL-MRI, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and 15O-gas positron emission computed tomography (PET). The regional CBF values of ASL using two post-labeling delays (PLDs; 1525 ms and 2525 ms) were compared with the PET-derived CBF, CBV, and mean transit time (MTT). Corresponding anterior circulation results were evaluated by flow territory map-based analysis. The correlation between the ASL-CBF values (2525 ms) and PET-CBF declined in the MMD group (r = 0.28; P < 0.01), while the AS group showed good correlation (r = 0.77; P < 0.01). In the MMD group, the ASL-CBF values (2525 ms) overestimated the PET-CBF values as the regional CBV values increased (r = 0.35; P < 0.01). When the regions of interest were divided into two subgroups according to the degree of arterial stenosis by MRA, the correlation coefficient between the ASL-CBF (2525 ms) and PET-CBF values improved (mild stenosis: r = 0.36; P = 0.06; severe stenosis: r = 0.51; P < 0.01). The accuracy of CBF measurements using ASL-MRI differed between patients with MMD and AS. The prominent increase of CBV and the degree of arterial stenosis may have affected the accuracy of ASL-CBF in patients with MMD.

Map-based cloning and promoter variation analysis of the lobed leaf gene BoLMI1a in ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala)

BackgroundLeaf shape is an important agronomic trait in ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala). Although some leaf shape-related genes have been reported in ornamental kale, the detailed mechanism underlying leaf shape formation is still unclear. Here, we report a lobed-leaf trait in ornamental kale, aiming to analyze its inheritance and identify the strong candidate gene.ResultsGenetic analysis of F2 and BC1 populations demonstrate that the lobed-leaf trait in ornamental kale is controlled by a single dominant gene, termed BoLl-1 (Brassica oleracea lobed-leaf). By performing whole-genome resequencing and linkage analyses, the BoLl-1 gene was finely mapped to a 127-kb interval on chromosome C09 flanked by SNP markers SL4 and SL6, with genetic distances of 0.6 cM and 0.6 cM, respectively. Based on annotations of the genes within this interval, Bo9g181710, an orthologous gene of LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY 1 (LMI1) in Arabidopsis, was predicted as the candidate for BoLl-1, and was renamed BoLMI1a. The expression level of BoLMI1a in lobed-leaf parent 18Q2513 was significantly higher compared with unlobed-leaf parent 18Q2515. Sequence analysis of the parental alleles revealed no sequence variations in the coding sequence of BoLMI1a, whereas a 1737-bp deletion, a 92-bp insertion and an SNP were identified within the BoLMI1a promoter region of parent 18Q2513. Verification analyses with BoLMI1a-specific markers corresponding to the promoter variations revealed that the variations were present only in the lobed-leaf ornamental kale inbred lines.ConclusionsThis study identified a lobed-leaf gene BoLMI1a, which was fine-mapped to a 127-kb fragment. Three variations were identified in the promoter region of BoLMI1a. The transcription level of BoLMI1a between the two parents exhibited great difference, providing new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying leaf shape formation in ornamental kale.

Expedient assessment of post-infarct remodeling by native cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in mice

Novel therapeutic strategies aiming at improving the healing process after an acute myocardial infarction are currently under intense investigation. The mouse model plays a central role for deciphering the underlying mechanisms on a molecular and cellular level. Therefore, we intended to assess in-vivo post-infarct remodeling as comprehensively as possible using an expedient native magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the two most prominent infarct models, permanent ligation (PL) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) versus ischemia reperfusion (I/R). Mice were subjected to either permanent or transient (45 min) occlusion of the LAD. After 3 weeks, examinations were performed with a 7-Tesla small animal MRI system. Data analysis was performed with the freely available software Segment. PL resulted in a massive dilation of the left ventricle, accompanied by hypertrophy of the non-infarcted myocardium and a decline of contractile function. These effects were less pronounced following I/R compared to healthy animals. Single plane assessments were not sufficient to capture the specific differences of left ventricular (LV) properties between the two infarct models. Bulls-eye plots were found to be an ideal tool for qualitative LV wall assessment, whereas a multi-slice sector-based analysis of wall regions is ideal to determine differences in hypertrophy, lateral wall thinning and wall thickening on a quantitative level. We combine the use of polar map-based analysis of LV wall properties with volumetric measurements using simple CINE CMR imaging. Our strategy represents a versatile and easily available tool for serial assessment of the LV during the remodeling process. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the effects of novel therapies targeting the healing of damaged myocardium.

The effects of COVID-19 epidemic on public transport ridership and frequencies. A case study from Tampere, Finland

The COVID-19 epidemic has created unforeseen effects in public transport in cities around the world, including Tampere, where a 70% decrease in the number of passengers occurred in spring 2020. The purpose of this paper is to study changes in public transport ridership, frequencies, and average fill rates during the epidemic in May 2020 compared to normal circumstances in January 2020 using map-based analysis. We used data provided by Tampere regional transport to create the public transport network and to assess the frequencies, ridership and average fill rates in different areas of Tampere. The paper presents the method used to analyze how the modified frequencies meet the decreased demand of public transport in Tampere. These results indicate that the decrease in ridership was great in almost all areas, except some eastern parts of Tampere. The frequencies were decreased in all areas but kept at a sufficient level. When analyzing fill rates, we found that the bus lines coming from east of Tampere were more crowded on average during the COVID-19 epidemic in May compared to January. In other areas, fill rates were lower. The results suggest that in Tampere, frequencies were mostly managed to maintain at a sufficient service level. However, the analyses also reveal that frequencies were not adjusted successfully in all areas with high fill rates in some routes. It is important to notice, that the public transport planners were facing a deviant situation with COVID-19 and that in future, there will be more information to help decision-making.

A near-real-time approach for monitoring forest disturbance using Landsat time series: stochastic continuous change detection

Forest disturbances greatly affect the ecological functioning of natural forests. Timely information regarding extent, timing and magnitude of forest disturbance events is crucial for effective disturbance management strategies. Yet, we still lack accurate, near-real-time and high-performance remote sensing tools for monitoring abrupt and subtle forest disturbances. This study presents a new approach called ‘Stochastic Continuous Change Detection (S-CCD)’ using a dense Landsat data time series. S-CCD improves upon the ‘COntinuous monitoring of Land Disturbance (COLD)’ approach by incorporating a mathematical tool called the ‘state space model’, which treats trends and seasonality as stochastic processes, allowing for modeling temporal dynamics of satellite observations in a recursive way. The quantitative accuracy assessment is evaluated based on 3782 Landsat-based disturbance reference plots (30 m) from a probability sampling distributed throughout the Conterminous United States. Validation results show that the overall accuracy (best F1 score) of S-CCD is 0.793 with 20% omission error and 21% commission error, slightly higher than that of COLD (0.789). Two disturbance sites respectively associated with wildfire and insect disturbances are used for qualitative map-based analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses suggest that S-CCD achieves fewer omission errors than COLD for detecting those disturbances with subtle/gradual spectral change. In addition, S-CCD facilitates a better real-time monitoring, benefited by its complete recursive manner and a shorter lag for confirming disturbance than COLD (126 days vs. 166 days for alerting 50% disturbance events), and reached up to ~4.4 times speedup for computation. This research addresses the need for near-real-time monitoring and large-scale mapping of forest health and offers a new approach for operationally performing change detection tasks from dense Landsat-based time series.

Thickness of Intraretinal Layers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Depending on a Concomitant Diabetic Neuropathy: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study Using Deviation Maps for OCT Data Analysis

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) supports the detection of thickness changes in intraretinal layers at an early stage of diabetes mellitus. However, the analysis of OCT data in cross-sectional studies is complex and time-consuming. We introduce an enhanced deviation map-based analysis (MA) and demonstrate its effectiveness in detecting early changes in intraretinal layer thickness in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to common early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) grid-based analysis (GA). To this end, we obtained OCT scans of unilateral eyes from 33 T2DM patients without diabetic retinopathy and 40 healthy controls. The patients were categorized according to concomitant diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DN). The results of MA and GA demonstrated statistically significant differences in retinal thickness between patients and controls. Thinning was most pronounced in total retinal thickness and the thickness of the inner retinal layers in areas of the inner macular ring, selectively extending into areas of the outer macular ring and foveal center. Patients with clinically proven DN showed the strongest thinning of the inner retinal layers. MA showed additional areas of thinning whereas GA tended to underestimate thickness changes, especially in areas with localized thinning. We conclude that MA enables a precise analysis of retinal thickness data and contributes to the understanding of localized changes in intraretinal layers in adults with T2DM.

The tomato WV gene encoding a thioredoxin protein is essential for chloroplast development at low temperature and high light intensity

BackgroundChloroplast biogenesis, a complex process in higher plants, is the key to photoautotrophic growth in plants. White virescent (wv) mutants have been used to unfold the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of chloroplast development and chloroplast gene expression in plants. However, most of genes controlling white virescent phenotype still remain unknown.ResultsIn this study, we identified a temperature- and light intensity-sensitive mutant, named as wv. The content of chlorophyll was dramatically decreased in the immature leaves of wv mutant under the conditions of low temperature and high-light intensity. TEM observation showed that the chloroplasts in the young leaves of wv mutant lacked an organized thylakoid membrane, whereas crescent-shaped chloroplasts with well-developed stromal and stacked grana thylakoids in the mature leaves were developed. Immunoblot analyses suggested that proteins of photosynthetic complexes were decreased substantially in wv mutants. Based on map-based cloning and transgenic analysis, we determined that the wv phenotype was caused by single base mutation in the first intron of WV gene, which encoded a thioredoxin protein with 365 amino acids. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of WV gene was significantly down-regulated in wv mutant. In addition, knockdown of WV gene through RNAi also resulted in white virescent young leaves, suggesting that the mutation possibly blocks the differentiation of chloroplasts through inhibiting the expression of WV gene. Furthermore, the expression of WV peaked in apical buds and gradually decreased along with the developmental stage, which was consistent with the wv mutant phenotype. Expression analysis of chloroplast-encoded genes by qRT-PCR showed that the wv mutation affected the expression pattern of chloroplast-encoded PEP dependent genes.ConclusionOur results suggested that wv mutant was sensitive to low temperature and light intensity. WV gene was essential for chloroplast differentiation. A single base mutation in the first intron resulted in down-regulation of WV gene expression, which inhibited the expression of chloroplast-encoded genes, thereby blocking chloroplast formation and chlorophyll synthesis.

Spatial aspects of regional infrastructure distribution (the case of Sverdlovsk region)

The article discusses the correlation between the localization of specific infrastructure objects within a region and characteristics of this region's territorial development. Conceptually the study is grounded in the theory of regional economics, spatial analysis and modelling and uses the tools of spatial autocorrelation analysis, such as the global and local Moran's I, and map-based spatial analysis. The settlement system of Sverdlovsk region (Russia) is considered as a key characteristic of its territorial development and the analysis shows the correlation between settlement patterns and the distribution of certain objects of social infrastructure (places of attraction) across the region’s territory. Access to infrastructure is an important factor which attracts people to this or that municipality. However, the key parameter that determines the spatial aspects of infrastructure distribution in the region is the emergence and development of the factors underlying this process. The article demonstrates that the localization of infrastructure objects built to generate economic effects and bring profit to their developers to a greater extent correlates with the prospective transformations of the settlement system (primarily agglomeration processes) rather than with its current characteristics (such correlation is more typical of the infrastructure objects specifically intended to address social issues). These research findings can be used by policy-makers for setting priorities of regional development, which would shape the spatial transformations of the territory.

An Efficient PV Power Optimizer With Reduced EMI Effects: Map-Based Analysis and Design Technique

The aim of this paper is to develop a one-dimensional (1-D) discrete-time model or map that will ensure reliable and safe chaotic operation of a modular photovoltaic (PV) power optimizer (PO) system. Based on this 1-D map, we perform the detailed bifurcation analysis and discuss a preliminary design guideline to operate the system into a desired chaotic regime, i.e., just after the golden mean. We show that operating POs in chaotic regime cannot only yield broader power spectrum with reduced spectral peak at the switching frequency harmonics of the system, but also exhibits faster tracking responses with overall conversion efficiency $\eta \geq$ 98%. Moreover, this optimized frequency-domain as well as time-domain performance are numerically analyzed and then verified experimentally using a prototype modular boost-type PV system.

What’s the Difference? 2D DIGE Image Analysis by DeCyderTM versus SameSpotsTM

The efficiency and reproducibility of two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) depends on several crucial steps: (i) adequate number of replicate gels, (ii) accurate image acquisition, and (iii) statistically confident protein abundance analysis. The latter is inherently determined by the image analysis system. Available software solutions apply different strategies for consecutive image alignment and protein spot detection. While DeCyder^TM performs spot detection on single gels prior to the alignment of spot maps, SameSpots^TM completes image alignment in advance of spot detection. In this study, the performances of DeCyder^TM and SameSpots^TM were compared considering all protein spots detected in 2D DIGE resolved proteomes of three different environmental bacteria with minimal user interference. Proteome map-based analysis by SameSpots^TM allows for fast and reproducible abundance change determination, avoiding time-consuming, manual spot matching. The different raw spot volumes, determined by the two software solutions, did not affect calculated abundance changes. Due to a slight factorial difference, minor abundance changes were very similar, while larger differences in the case of major abundance changes did not impact biological interpretation in the studied cases. Overall, affordable fluorescent dyes in combination with fast CCD camera-based image acquisition and user-friendly image analysis still qualify 2D DIGE as a valuable tool for quantitative proteomics.

On Map-Based Analysis of Item Relationships in Specific Health Examination Data for Subjects Possibly Having Diabetes

On Map-Based Analysis of Item Relationships in Specific Health Examination Data for Subjects Possibly Having Diabetes

Exploiting Illumina sequencing for the development of InDel markers in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

ABSTRACTWatermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus] is a cross-pollinating diploid species and is one of the most important dicotyledonous plants belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae due to its high nutritional value, rapid growth, sweet and juicy taste, and refreshing nature as a summer fruit. However, the insertion–deletion (InDel) markers available for watermelon cannot satisfy the demand to identify and map resistance genes in this major crop. In this study, we have characterised and developed numerous polymorphic InDel markers using Illumina re-sequencing of a male parental line that is resistant to Fusarium wilt. In total, 25,701 potential InDel markers were identified, with a mean size of 18 bp. From these, 7,387 potential InDel markers > 10 bp were selected and tested as candidate InDel markers to locate resistance genes for map-based cloning and polymorphism analysis. We designed and synthesised 69 primer pairs using Primer 3 software. Overall, 54 primer pairs detected polymorphism between the Fusarium-susceptible female parent ‘JSw01-1’ and the Fusarium-resistant male parent ‘JRw08-3’. Among the 69 InDel markers, 54 (78.3%) exhibited polymorphism at 179 PCR loci. Polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.04 to 0.91, and the number of alleles per primer ranged from 1 to 11. The 54 InDel markers that were mined and exploited via Illumina re-sequencing of watermelon could accelerate the development of marker-assisted breeding and the progression of genetic research to understand resistance to Fusarium wilt in watermelon.

Map-based Cloning and Functional Analysis of Low Chlorophyll Fluorescence Gene LCF3 in Arabidopsis thaliana

Map-based Cloning and Functional Analysis of Low Chlorophyll Fluorescence Gene LCF3 in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

Simplifying Complexity in Metabolomics

Metabolomics analysis to unravel secondary metabolite dynamics in microorganisms faces the challenge of immense data sets and complex experimental setups. In this issue, Goodwin et al. present a multiple stimuli approach combined with self-organizing map-based analysis to elucidate variations in the metabolome of Streptomyces coelicolor caused by biotic and environmental perturbations.