Previous Mapping Research Articles

A blended census and multiscale remote sensing approach to probabilistic cropland mapping in complex landscapes

Remote sensing data are used to map the extent of croplands. They are especially useful in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where landscapes are complex and farms are small, i.e. less than two ha. In this study, a hierarchical remote sensing approach was developed to estimate field fractions at 30 m spatial resolution in a highly fragmented agricultural region of Ethiopia. The landscape was stratified into crop production system (CPS) zones with ten-day SPOT Proba-V 1 km normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) composites. The CPS zones were used to disaggregate agricultural census statistics to 1 km field fractions and mask “wet” and “dry” seasons. Long-term average wet-dry season NDVI and topographic information derived from 30 m Landsat-8 (OLI) surface reflectance and the SRTM digital elevation model were combined with 1 km field fractions in a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to produce the field fractions. Sample dot grids were manually interpreted from very high-resolution DigitalGlobe imagery on the Google Earth platform for training and testing. The model yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.71 and R2 of 0.65 in the holdout sample set. The high AUC reveals the model was effective at classifying 30 m pixels as “crop” or “not crop” while the high R2 indicated leveraging at the extremes (100 and 0% probability), meaning at 30 m resolution, subpixel variations were difficult to discern. The improved model skill compared to previous cropland mapping studies using GAMs can be attributed to the stratification and decomposition of the Landsat time series using CPS-defined phenology. Additional remote sensing model inputs, such as Sentinel-1 radar backscatter and Sentinel-2 red-edge reflectance, could provide additional explanatory power. Wall-to-wall national coverage for agricultural production estimation or other food security related application could be achieved by manually digitizing additional sample data in other regions of Ethiopia or using existing crowd-sourced databases, such as Geo-Wiki.

DSFTL: An Efficient FTL for Flash Memory Based Storage Systems

Flash memory is widely used in solid state drives (SSD), smartphones and so on because of their non-volatility, low power consumption, rapid access speed, and resistance to shocks. Due to the hardware features of flash memory that differ from hard disk drives (HDD), a software called FTL (Flash Translation Layer) was presented. The function of FTL is to make flash memory device appear as a block device to its host. However, due to the erase before write features of flash memory, flash blocks need to be constantly availed through the garbage collection (GC) of invalid pages, which incurs high-priced overhead. In the previous hybrid mapping schemes, there are three problems that cause GC overhead. First, operation of partial merge causes more page copies than operation of switch merge. However, many authors just concentrate on reducing operation of full merge. Second, the availability between a data block and a log block makes the space availability of the log block lower, and it also generates a very high-priced operation of full merge. Third, the space availability of the data block is low because the data block, which has many free pages, is merged. Therefore, we propose a new FTL named DSFTL (Dynamic Setting for FTL). In this FTL, we use many SW (sequential write) log blocks to increase operation of switch merge and to decrease operation of partial merge. In addition, DSFTL dynamically handles the data blocks and log blocks to reduce the operations of erase and the high-priced operation of full merge. Additionally, our scheme prevents the data block with many free pages from being merged to increase the space availability of the data block. Our extensive experimental results prove that our proposed approach (DSFTL) reduces the count of erase and increases the operation of switch merge. As a result, DSFTL decreases the garbage collection overhead.

Mapping child growth failure across low- and middle-income countries

Childhood malnutrition is associated with high morbidity and mortality globally1. Undernourished children are more likely to experience cognitive, physical, and metabolic developmental impairments that can lead to later cardiovascular disease, reduced intellectual ability and school attainment, and reduced economic productivity in adulthood2. Child growth failure (CGF), expressed as stunting, wasting, and underweight in children under five years of age (0–59 months), is a specific subset of undernutrition characterized by insufficient height or weight against age-specific growth reference standards3–5. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, or underweight in children under five is the proportion of children with a height-for-age, weight-for-height, or weight-for-age z-score, respectively, that is more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organization’s median growth reference standards for a healthy population6. Subnational estimates of CGF report substantial heterogeneity within countries, but are available primarily at the first administrative level (for example, states or provinces)7; the uneven geographical distribution of CGF has motivated further calls for assessments that can match the local scale of many public health programmes8. Building from our previous work mapping CGF in Africa9, here we provide the first, to our knowledge, mapped high-spatial-resolution estimates of CGF indicators from 2000 to 2017 across 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 99% of affected children live1, aggregated to policy-relevant first and second (for example, districts or counties) administrative-level units and national levels. Despite remarkable declines over the study period, many LMICs remain far from the ambitious World Health Organization Global Nutrition Targets to reduce stunting by 40% and wasting to less than 5% by 2025. Large disparities in prevalence and progress exist across and within countries; our maps identify high-prevalence areas even within nations otherwise succeeding in reducing overall CGF prevalence. By highlighting where the highest-need populations reside, these geospatial estimates can support policy-makers in planning interventions that are adapted locally and in efficiently directing resources towards reducing CGF and its health implications.

КОЛІЗІЙНІ ДЕФОРМАЦІЇ ДНІПРОВСЬКО-ДОНЕЦЬКОЇ ЗАПАДИНИ Стаття 1. Тектоніка зони зчленування з Донецькою складчастою спорудою

The article is the first part of a trilogy devoted to the study of post-rift deformations of the riftogenic structure of the Dnieper-Donets paleorift. The mechanisms of collision warping of the horizons of the sedimentary cover of the southeastern part of the Dnieper-Donets depression are considered. According to the previous mapping data, the tectonic deformations of the sedimentary cover were controlled by systems of faults of the north, north-west, and south-east vergence. The lattices of tectonites of the Hercynian, Lamaric, and Attic generations determine the specific “cross-thrust” structure of pushing. Overthrusts and linear folding of three generations permeate the sedimentary sequence of the transition zone from east to west for hundreds of kilometers within the eastern part of Izyumsky paleorift segment. The analytical base of the research was the materials of geological mapping of the zone of the junction of the depression with the Donets fold structure. Using field definitions of the tectonite vergency of the Hercynian, Laramide and Attic phases of tectogenesis, the original method of reconstruction of tectonic deformation fields and tectonophysics analysis of structures, collision deformations of the sedimentary cover of the south-eastern part of the Dnieper-Donets paleorift are studied. The tectonophysical analysis of tectonites of different ages indicates that together they control the cover-thrust and folded deformations of the riftogenic structure. Overthrusts and linear reverse-folding of three generations form the West-Donetsk integumentary-folding region, within which a segment of the same name tectonic thrust is distinguished. By pushing the system of repeatedly deformed, crushed into folds of geomass sedimentary rocks on weakly deployed syneclise deposits, the riftogenic structure of the south-eastern part of the basin is completely destroyed. The structural-tectonic framework of the allochthone, pushed from the side of the Donets structure, is composed of dynamically conjugated lattices of Hercynian, Laramide, and Attic tectonites. They control the echelon backstage of linear reverse-folds, tectonic plate-covers of transverse extrusion of sedimentary geomass from axial to airborne zones and folded covers of longitudinal thrust from the south-east. The riftogenic structure of the transition zone between the Dnieper-Donets basin and the Donets folded structure was completely destroyed by deformations of three generations of platform activation. The dynamically coupled tectonite lattice, the overlays, and the folded zones of the Hercynian, Laramide, and Attic generations jointly form the West-Donets fold-fold region within its boundaries. The main tectonic element of the area is the eponymous subregional tectonic thrust segment. The central structural zone is Veliko-Kamyshevakhskaya, Novotroitskaya, Druzhkovsko-Konstantinovskaya and Main anticlines. The central zone divides the body of the segment into two tectonic regions according to the tectonic style and intensity of deformation of the sedimentary sequence. The northern part is occupied by the Luhansk-Kamyshevakhsky region of the rocky-layered linear folding of the thrust, and the southern part is the Kalmius-Toretsky region of scaly tectonic covers.

Rapid luminosity decline and subsequent reformation of the innermost dust distribution in the changing-look AGN Mrk 590

ABSTRACT We examine the long-term optical/near-infrared (NIR) flux variability of a ‘changing-look’ active galactic nucleus (AGN) Mrk 590 between 1998 and 2007. Multiband multi-epoch optical/NIR photometry data from the SDSS Stripe 82 data base and the Multicolor Active Galactic Nuclei Monitoring (MAGNUM) project reveal that Mrk 590 experienced a sudden luminosity decrease during the period from 2000 to 2001. Detection of dust reverberation lag signals between V- and K-band light curves obtained by the MAGNUM project during the faint state in 2003–2007 suggests that the dust torus innermost radius Rdust of Mrk 590 had become very small [Rdust ≃ 32 light-days (lt-days)] by the year 2004 according to the aforementioned significant decrease in AGN luminosity. The Rdust in the faint state is comparable to the H β broad-line region (BLR) radius of RH β, BLR ≃ 26 lt-days measured by previous reverberation mapping observations during the bright state of Mrk 590 in 1990–1996. These observations indicate that the innermost radius of the dust torus in Mrk 590 decreased rapidly after the AGN ultraviolet-optical luminosity drop, and that the replenishment time-scale of the innermost dust distribution is less than 4 yr, which is much shorter than the free fall time-scale of BLR gas or dust clouds. We suggest that rapid replenishment of the innermost dust distribution can be accomplished either by new dust formation in radiatively cooled BLR gas clouds or by new dust formation in the disc atmosphere and subsequent vertical wind from the dusty disc as a result of radiation pressure.

An integrated ecological and cultural framework for landscape sensitivity assessment in Cyprus

The aim of the paper is to describe the development and implementation of an integrated framework for landscape sensitivity assessment in Cyprus, a biodiversity hotspot with high landscape diversity. Akamas peninsula, the western tip of the island covering an area of 230 km2, is under great pressure for development, notwithstanding it hosts 21 terrestrial habitats, four of which are priority at European level, in addition to 48 endangered plant species.Following previous coarse scale landscape mapping on the island, a more detailed landscape map at 1:10,000 scale (Level III) was produced, appropriate for local planning purposes. Overall landscape sensitivity was evaluated as a function of ecological, cultural and visual sensitivity of the study area. 66 Land Description Units (LDUs) were mapped and 38 Landscape Types (LCTs) were identified for the Akamas peninsula. Ecological sensitivity assessment for Akamas determined that 85 % of the LDUs have high to very high sensitivity with those within Natura 2000 sites having the highest. Out of 66 LDUs, 35 % were of high or moderate cultural sensitivity and there were 32 LDUs with high overall landscape sensitivity i.e. when visual sensitivity was also considered. Based on the various degrees of sensitivity identified in this study, the task of policy makers is to establish a policy response for each landscape type based on the principles and practice of sustainability. In the Mediterranean, the development of an integrated assessment for landscape sensitivity is critically important at a time of rapid change.

Post-stroke cognitive deficits rarely come alone: Handling co-morbidity in lesion-behaviour mapping.

Post‐stroke behavioural symptoms often correlate and systematically co‐occur with each other, either because they share cognitive processes, or because their neural correlates are often damaged together. Thus, neuropsychological symptoms often share variance. Many previous lesion‐behaviour mapping studies aimed to methodologically consider this shared variance between neuropsychological variables. A first group of studies controlled the behavioural target variable for the variance explained by one or multiple other variables to obtain a more precise mapping of the target variable. A second group of studies focused on the shared variance of multiple variables itself with the aim to map neural correlates of cognitive processes that are shared between the original variables. In the present study, we tested the validity of these methods by using real lesion data and both real and simulated data sets. We show that the variance that is shared between post‐stroke behavioural variables is ambiguous, and that mapping procedures that consider this variance are prone to biases and artefacts. We discuss under which conditions such procedures could still be used and what alternative approaches exist.

A two-step mutation process in the double WS1 homologs drives the evolution of burley tobacco, a special chlorophyll-deficient mutant with abnormal chloroplast development.

The functional homologs WS1A and WS1B, identified by map-based cloning, control the burley character by affecting chloroplast development in tobacco, contributing to gene isolation and genetic improvement in polyploid crops. Burley represents a special type of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivar that is characterized by a white stem with a high degree of chlorophyll deficiency. Although important progress in the research of burley tobacco has been made, the molecular mechanisms underlying this character remain unclear. Here, on the basis of our previous genetic analyses and preliminary mapping results, we isolated the White Stem 1A (WS1A) and WS1B genes using a map-based cloning approach. WS1A and WS1B are functional homologs with completely identical biological functions and highly similar expression patterns that control the burley character in tobacco. WS1A and WS1B are derived from Nicotiana sylvestris and Nicotiana tomentosiformis, the diploid ancestors of Nicotiana tabacum, respectively. The two genes encode zinc metalloproteases of the M50 family that are highly homologous to the Ethylene-dependent Gravitropism-deficient and Yellow-green 1 (EGY1) protein of Arabidopsis and the Lutescent 2 (L2) protein of tomato. Transmission electron microscopic examinations indicated that WS1A and WS1B are involved in the development of chloroplasts by controlling the formation of thylakoid membranes, very similar to that observed for EGY1 and L2. The genotyping of historical tobacco varieties revealed that a two-step mutation process occurred in WS1A and WS1B during the evolution of burley tobacco. We also discussed the strategy for gene map-based cloning in polyploid plants with complex genomes. This study will facilitate the identification of agronomically important genes in tobacco and other polyploid crops and provide insights into crop improvement via molecular approaches.

Comment on 'Metamorphic olivine after dehydration embrittlement in Serpentinite: Case study from the Shiraga Serpentinite mass in the Sanbagawa high P/T metamorphic belt, central Shikoku, Japan' by Fukumura, Okamoto and Terabayashi, https://doi.org/10.1111/iar.12293

Comment on 'Metamorphic olivine after dehydration embrittlement in Serpentinite: Case study from the Shiraga Serpentinite mass in the Sanbagawa high P/T metamorphic belt, central Shikoku, Japan' by Fukumura, Okamoto and Terabayashi, https://doi.org/10.1111/iar.12293

Above-ground biomass mapping in West African dryland forest using Sentinel-1 and 2 datasets - A case study

The Sudanian Savanna (SS) of West Africa is characterized by tropical savannas and woodlands. Accurate estimation of AGB and carbon stocks in this biome is important for addressing sustainable development goals as the information can aid natural resource management at varied spatial scales. Previous AGB mapping efforts focused on humid forests, with little attention on savannas. This study explored the use of annual monthly time-series of Senitinel-1 (S-1) and Sentinel-2 (S-2) data to map AGB in the SS. Backscatter, spectral reflectance, and derivatives (vegetation indices and biophysical parameters) were combined with field inventory data in a Random Forest regression to map AGB. Eight experiments were conducted with different data configurations to determine: (1) the potential of S-1 and S-2 for AGB mapping, (2) optimal image acquisition period for AGB mapping, and (3) contribution of image derivatives to improving the accuracy of AGB mapping. The predicted map was validated with 40% of the inventory data. Uncertainty in the AGB was assessed using mean absolute error, root mean squared error, coefficient of determination and symmetrical mean absolute percentage error. Results show that about 90% of the study area have low AGB stocks of less than 90 Mg/ha. Compared to S-1 (RMSE: 78.6; MAE: 25.6), S-2 achieved better prediction accuracy (RMSE: 60.6; MAE: 19.2), although combination of the two according to seasonality produced the best results (RMSE: 45.4; MAE: 16.3). Images acquired in the dry season were found to be more useful for predicting AGB than those of rainy season. Also, stress-related vegetation indices and a red-edge dependent normalized difference vegetation index not tested in previous AGB studies using Sentinels were found to be significant contributors to the superior performance of S-2. Since biomass is a finite resource, our results can provide valuable information on the sustainable use of biomass and energy security including studies on carbon cycling and ecosystem functions in the region. The demonstrated possibility of using open access earth observation data to map and monitor AGB in data scarce regions is useful and beneficial to attaining SDG indicators 15.2.1 (sustainable forest management) and 15.3.1 (proportion of land that is degraded over total land area). Further work on developing species-specific wood densities and allometric equations is required to improve AGB and carbon stock estimation in the SS.

P1006Conduction disorders in patients with congenital heart disease and right atrial volume overload: an intraoperative epicardial mapping study

Abstract Background Various atrial regions may contribute to the arrhythmogenic substrate for atrial tachyarrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF), in patients with right atrial (RA) volume overload in congenital heart disease (CHD). It is widely recognized that structural and electrical remodelling of the RA occurs, but a previous endovascular mapping study showed that the left atrium (LA) was also affected in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). The role of Bachmann's bundle (BB) and posterior left atrium (PLA) is yet unknown. Purpose To quantify and compare prevalence and severity of conduction disorders during sinus rhythm between atrial regions in patients with CHD and RA volume overload, using intraoperative high-resolution epicardial mapping. Methods Thirty-one patients (female: n=18, age: 48.5±13.8 years, history of AF: n=5) undergoing cardiac surgery for secundum ASD (n=18), sinus venosus defect (n=11) or isolated partial abnormal pulmonary venous return (n=2) were included. Intra-operative epicardial mapping (N=128/192 electrodes, interelectrode distance: 2mm) of the RA, BB, LA and PLA was performed during sinus rhythm. Conduction delay (CD) and block (CB) were quantified per region as proportion (%), length of lines (mm) and maximum conduction time (Δ local activation time between two adjacent electrodes). Results Proportion of CD on BB was 3.9% (2.3–4.9), RA 3.1% (1.9–3.8), PLA 2.4% (1.2–3.6) and LA 2.3% (1–3) and was higher on BB compared to PLA (p=0.002) and LA (p<0.001) but not RA (p=0.063). Proportion of CB on BB was 2.1% (1.2–5.4), RA 2.2% (1.1–3.4), PLA 0.8% (0.1–2.4) and LA 0.8% (0.3–1.6) and was smaller on LA compared to BB (p=0.001) and RA (p=0.004). There were no significant differences in length of CD/CB lines between regions, except that length of the longest CB line per patient was longer in the RA compared to LA (p=0.008). Maximum conduction time was highest in the RA (median 40ms) as opposed to BB (31ms), LA (21ms) and PLA (18ms; all p<0.0083 with Bonferroni correction), suggesting conduction disorders were more severe in the RA. For sub analysis, the RA surface was divided into 1) the crista terminalis region and 2) the lateral RA wall. In the crista terminalis region, proportions of CD and CB were higher, CD/CB lines were longer and maximum conduction times were higher (all p<0.05). Differences between patients with and without AF were solely observed on BB: patients with AF had a higher proportion and longer lines of CB (p<0.05), though outcomes should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of patients with AF. Conclusions In adult patients with CHD and RA volume overload, both RA and BB were affected by conduction disorders. More specifically, conduction disorders in the RA were mainly concentrated in the crista terminalis region. These findings suggest that not only the RA but also BB may be involved in the arrhythmogenic substrate for atrial tachyarrhythmias in these patients. Acknowledgement/Funding Dutch Heart Foundation [no 2012T0046]; LSH-Impulse [no 40-43100-98-008]; CVON [no 914728] and VIDI [no 91717339] to N.M.S. de Groot.

Precision public health and HIV in Africa

Laura Dwyer-Lindgren and colleagues1 have published an important mapping study that shows changes in the prevalence of HIV across Africa between 2000 and 2017. They used multiple data sets and statistical modelling to estimate both the prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15–49 years (figure) and the number of HIV-infected adults in this age group (figure 3 in Dwyer-Lindgren and colleagues1), at a spatial resolution of 5 × 5 km. They are the first to map HIV epidemics across the entire continent of Africa; previous mapping studies have focused on specific countries such as Lesotho2 and Zimbabwe.

A Scalable and Adaptable ILP-Based Approach for Task Mapping on MPSoC Considering Load Balance and Communication Optimization

Task mapping has been a hot topic in multiprocessor system-on-chip software design for decades. During the mapping process, load balance (LB) and communication optimization have been two important performance optimization factors. This paper studies the relations between LB, interprocessor communications, and communication pipeline technique during the mapping process, and proposes an integer linear programming (ILP)-based static task mapping approach, which considers both LB and communication optimization. The approach consists of an optimized ILP model for task mapping with fewer variables compared to previous ILP mapping works. Moreover, to enhance the scalability of the ILP task mapping, the task-processor-cluster algorithm is proposed to reduce the scale of the task graph and the number of processors and then solve the coarse-grained input by the ILP mapping. To increase the adaptability of the ILP task mapping, the improved augmented $\epsilon $ -constraint method is further integrated with the ILP formulations to select the best mapping for different applications. Experimental results on a 2/4/8/16/24-CPU platform of both synthetic and real-life benchmarks demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.

Contemporaneous Paleogene arc-magmatism within continental and accreted oceanic arc complexes in the northwestern Andes and Panama

The basement rocks of the northwestern Andes are composed of accreted, fault bound, slivers of the Cretaceous Caribbean Large Igneous Province (CLIP). Previous geologic mapping, geochronological and geochemical data show that Paleogene arc-like units make up part of the accreted CLIP in SW Colombia (Timbiquí Complex), NW Colombia (Santa Cecilila La Equis Complex), and at the boundary between Colombia and Panama (Acandí Region). Similar Paleogene igneous units have been reported in Ecuador (Silante and Macuchí arc), and Panama (Chagres-Bayano Arc). These arc-like rocks are commonly interpreted to have formed as part of an intra-oceanic arc before accretion to the continental margin. Alternative explanations suggest that the Paleogene igneous rocks in Ecuador were formed within a continental magmatic arc. We compare Paleogene igneous rocks in the San Blas Complex (Chagres-Bayano Arc and Acandí Region), Santa Cecilia la Equis Complex, and the SW Complex (Timbiquí Complex, Silante and Macuchí arcs) using geochemical (major and trace elements), geochronological (zircon U-Pb) and isotopic (zircon Hf, and whole rock Pb, Sr, Nd isotopes) data. Zircon U-Pb analyses yield ages of 46–42 Ma for the Acandí Region, 59–51 Ma for the Santa Cecilia La Equis Complex, and 44–42 Ma for the Timbiquí Complex. Major and trace element data show low-K to calc-alkaline compositions with negative Nb anomaly and LREE/HREE enrichment typically attributed to arc-like signatures, for the three complexes. Pb, Sr, and Nd whole rock and zircon Lu-Hf isotopic data for the Santa Cecilia La Equis and the San Blas complexes, are consistent with a depleted mantle source mixed with Pacific sediments. However, the presence of inherited Proterozoic zircons, elevated 207Pb/204Pb ratios in some evolved igneous rocks, and crystallization under low pressure conditions, suggest assimilation of continental-derived sediments. These data indicate that the Santa Cecilia La Equis and the San Blas complexes likely originated in an intra-oceanic island arc setting, in a close proximity to the South American margin before accretion to the Andean margin. In the case of the SW Complex, the absence of Eu anomaly, slightly depleted HREE, as well as increased Sr/Y values with fractionation, indicate that these magmas formed in a moderately mature arc within a mid-shallow crust level. Moreover, radiogenic Pb and Sr isotopic values for the less evolved igneous rocks of the SW Complex evolving to less radiogenic values suggest involvement of continental sediments in the parental magma source, and assimilation of the mafic basement crust. This indicates that the Paleogene magmatic rocks of the SW Complex originated in a continental arc-like setting within previously accreted slivers of the CLIP.

How has SPI changed in times of agile development? Results from a multi‐method study

AbstractThe emergence of agile methods and practices has not only changed the development processes but might also have affected how companies conduct software process improvement (SPI). Through a set of complementary studies, we aim to understand how SPI has changed in times of agile software development. Specifically, we aim (a) to identify and characterize the set of publications that connect elements of agility to SPI, (b) to explore to which extent agile methods/practices have been used in the context of SPI, and (c) to understand whether the topics addressed in the literature are relevant and useful for industry professionals. To study these questions, we conducted an in‐depth analysis of the literature identified in a previous mapping study, an interview study, and an analysis of the responses given by industry professionals to SPI‐related questions stemming from an independently conducted survey study. Regarding the first question, we identified 55 publications that focus on both SPI and agility of which 48 present and discuss how agile methods/practices are used to steer SPI initiatives. Regarding the second question, we found that the two most frequently mentioned agile methods in the context of SPI are Scrum and Extreme Programming (XP), while the most frequently mentioned agile practices are integrate often, test‐first, daily meeting, pair programming, retrospective, on‐site customer, and product backlog. Regarding the third question, we found that a majority of the interviewed and surveyed industry professionals see SPI as a continuous activity. They agree with the agile SPI literature that agile methods/practices play an important role in SPI activities but that the importance given to specific agile methods/practices does not always coincide with the frequency with which these methods/practices are mentioned in the literature.

Genetic dissection of the natural dry-on-vine (NDOV) trait in grapevine

The impact of mechanized raisin harvesting has been positive in terms of reducing crop losses due to the development of cultivars that exhibit the natural dry-on-vine (NDOV) trait in grape germplasm. However, while drying rates of specific genotypes are being determined and cultivars are being released, the genetic components influencing the NDOV trait are not yet known. A deeper understanding of genetic mechanisms influencing NDOV will enable scientists to develop tools for breeding applications, such as molecular markers for seedling selection, and allow the formulation of strategies for the further study of NDOV and its biochemical basis, which may provide insights for agricultural management practices. Previous genetic mapping attempts of the NDOV trait using distinct phenotypic data were unsuccessful. A study in tomato demonstrated that the gene Cpw1 affects fruit cuticle leading to fruit dehydration on the plant. Hence, Cpw1 was selected as a potential candidate underlying the NDOV phenotype in grapevine. By using the grapevine genome reference sequence, two loci were identified as having high homology to tomato Cpw1, one on chromosome 3 and another on chromosome 18, the latter having the higher homology and therefore being named VviCpw1. Sequences of these loci were retrieved from the genome sequences of ‘Thompson Seedless’, ‘Pinot Noir’, ‘Flame Seedless’, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ and Vitis cinerea B9 and used for multiple sequence alignments for homology quantification and identification of putative polymorphisms. The DNA sequence of VviCpw1 was cloned from the NDOV raisin cultivar ‘Sunpreme’ and introduced into tomato to verify function. In addition, screening for polymorphisms in raisin-related germplasm, with and without the NDOV trait, is underway using AmpSeq, while obtaining supporting phenotypic data from NDOV-segregating germplasm. Studies on cuticle features are also envisioned. Results from this study will enable the development of tools and a body of knowledge for the further understanding of the NDOV trait in grapevine.

Does Involving Parents in Soil Sampling Identify Causes of Child Exposure to Lead? A Case Study of Community Engagement in Mining-Impacted Towns in Peru.

Over a million people in Peru may be exposed to lead (Pb) due to past or present mining‐related activities; however, neither soil Pb nor blood Pb are routinely monitored throughout the country. Because little is known about Pb contamination in smaller mining‐impacted towns, soil Pb was mapped in four such towns with a portable X‐ray fluorescence analyzer in 2015. The roadside mapping delineated hotspots of highly contaminated soil (1,000–6,000 mg/kg Pb) in two of the towns. The local health department, provided with a LeadCare II analyzer, then measured blood‐Pb levels >5 in 65% and >10 μg/dL in 15% of children (n = 200) up to 6 years of age in these same four communities. There were no clear relations between child blood‐Pb levels and Pb levels in soil samples collected inside (n = 50) or outside the home (n = 50). Increased child blood Pb was associated with decreased level of cleanliness of parent clothing (n = 136) and shoes (n = 138), linking a possible behavioral factor for transferring contaminated soil and dust to children. In order to explore individual exposure and variations in soil Pb, 10 parents of children with blood Pb >10 μg/dL and 10 parents of children with blood Pb <5 μg/dL were invited to collect soil samples in areas where their children play and screen it for Pb using a color‐based field procedure. Importantly, parents identified a new hotspot of Pb contamination that had been missed by the previous portable X‐ray fluorescence soil mapping. The findings highlight the feasibility and value of involving families impacted by environmental contamination to identify and reduce environmental health risk.

Maps under the global condition: a new tool to study the evolution of cartographic language

Maps under the global condition: a new tool to study the evolution of cartographic language

Genome‐Wide Association Mapping of Seedling Net Form Net Blotch Resistance in an Ethiopian and Eritrean Barley Collection

ABSTRACTThe net form of net blotch, caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt), is an economically important disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) that is best managed by breeding for resistance. Previous linkage mapping and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) in barley. Here we report eight novel resistance QTL identified in a unique collection of barley landraces from Ethiopia and Eritrea (EEBC) using a GWAS approach. Lines from the EEBC were genotyped with the Illumina barley iSelect chip and phenotyped with four Ptt isolates. A GWAS was conducted using the efficient mixed model association (EMMA) method with principal components and kinship to control false positives. Using a significance threshold of false discovery rate (FDR) of 0.05, two marker–trait associations (MTAs) were found on chromosomes 6H and 5H, respectively. Since this is a stringent method, markers in the lower 0.1 percentile of the p value distribution were also considered significant, identifying 20 unique MTAs. The 20 MTAs corresponded to 15 unique genomic loci, based on analysis of local linkage disequilibrium. Of the 15 QTL identified, one was identified in chromosome 1H, six in 2H, three each in 3H and 5H, and two in 6H. Eight of these QTL appear to be novel and thus could be of value to barley breeding programs to introgress novel net blotch resistance.

The assessment of pulmonary vein potentials using the new achieve advance during cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation

BackgroundThe new version of inner lumen mapping catheter (Achieve Advance™; Medtronic, Minnesota, USA) includes a new solid core which provides improved rotational response, as compared to the current Achieve Mapping Catheter. In the present study, we sought to analyze the rate of visualisation of real-time recordings using this new device comparing it with a large cohort of patients having undergone second generation cryoballoon (CB) ablation using the previous Achieve mapping catheter. MethodsAll patients having undergone CB ablation using the Achieve Advance and the last 150 consecutive patients having undergone CB ablation using the previous Achieve were analysed. Exclusion criteria were presence of an intracavitary thrombus, uncontrolled heart failure, moderate or severe valvular disease and contraindications to general anesthesia. ResultsA total of 200 consecutive patients (60.1 ± 9.5 years, 75% males) were evaluated (50 Achieve Advance and 150 old Achieve). Real-time recordings were significantly more prevalent in the “new Achieve Advance” population compared with the “old Achieve” group (73.5% vs 56.8%; p = 0.0001). Real-time recordings could be more frequently visualized in the “Achieve Advance” group in all veins except RIPV (LSPV: 86% vs 71.3%, p = 0.04; LIPV: 84% vs 62.7%, p = 0.005; RSPV: 78% vs 52%, p < 0.0001; RIPV: 46% vs 41.3%, p = 0.3). ConclusionsThe rate of visualisation of real-time recordings is significantly higher using the new Achieve Advance if compared to the previous Achieve mapping catheter in the setting of CB ablation. Real-time recordings can be visualized in approximately 73.5% of veins with this new device.