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Noise emission is an important problem of vehicles. An important part of the general noise of the vehicle, which is called pass-by noise, is composed of the wheels and the engine. In this study, it was aimed to design a wheel arch liner (WAL) that can absorb the sounds coming from the wheels of the vehicles by creating micro-perforated panel (MPP) structures. While examining the diameters, pattern, and frequency of the holes in the MPP structures within the scope of the research; The effect of the cavity, which can be left behind the wheel arch liner structure to be used in the vehicle, on the acoustic absorption values was also included in the scope of the research, and studies were carried out to reduce the acoustic emission. In order to observe the effect of this cavity, 2 different cavity sizes (18-28 mm) were used with a without cavity MPP structure. In the results of the research, the highest acoustic absorption value (Sa) was observed as 0.97 in the sample with 7% hole density and 3 mm hole diameter. In addition, when the cavity behind the MPP structure is examined, the best Sa value was found in the sample with an 18 mm cavity. This research, which sought to reduce pass-by noise, revealed the potential of integrating MPP structures into wheel arch liners to reduce wheel noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the battery or supercapacitor is connected to the output of a PV system, the conventional voltage equation expressing its mathematical model usually must be replaced by the current relationship to study the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control theory. However, hitherto, there is a lack of an attempt to disclose the current constraint relationships at the maximum power point (MPP), which leads to the potential risk of MPPT failure. To solve this problem, in this paper, the MPPT constraint conditions on the basis of currents are built and then a new MPPT control strategy is proposed. In this strategy, a linearized model parameter of a PV cell is used as the bridge to find the current relationships. On the basis of them, some expressions involving the duty cycle are built to directly calculate the control signal of the MPPT controller. Meanwhile, an implementation method is designed to match this proposed MPPT strategy. Finally, some simulation experiments are conducted. The simulation results verify that the proposed MPPT constraint expressions are accurate and workable and that the proposed MPPT strategy and its implementation process are feasible and available. In addition, the simulation results also show that the proposed MPPT strategy has a better MPPT speed and the same MPPT accuracy when the P&O method and fuzzy algorithm are compared. By this work, the MPPT constraint conditions based on current relationships are first found, representing a breakthrough in disclosing the inherent relationships between different currents when the PV system is operating around the MPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombination is a key mechanism in breeding for promoting genetic variability. Multiparental populations (MPPs) constitute an excellent platform for precise genotype phasing, identification of genome-wide crossovers (COs), estimation of recombination frequencies, and construction of recombination maps. Here, we introduce haploMAGIC, a pipeline to detect COs in MPPs with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data by exploiting the pedigree relationships for accurate genotype phasing and inference of grandparental haplotypes. haploMAGIC applies filtering to prevent false-positive COs due to genotyping errors (GEs), a common problem in high-throughput SNP analysis of complex plant genomes. Hence, it discards haploblocks not reaching a specified minimum number of informative alleles. A performance analysis using populations simulated with AlphaSimR revealed that haploMAGIC improves upon existing methods of CO detection in terms of recall and precision, most notably when GE rates are high. Furthermore, we constructed recombination maps using haploMAGIC with high-resolution genotype data from 2 large multiparental populations of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus). The results demonstrate the applicability of the pipeline in real-world scenarios and showed good correlations in recombination frequency compared with alternative software. Therefore, we propose haploMAGIC as an accurate tool at CO detection with MPPs that shows robustness against GEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the essential theoretical elements related to the construction and operation of numerical control machines, starting from a study of the theoretical aspects related to the design of a CNC typewriter. The block diagrams of the machine, the interconnections between the component blocks and the operation of the whole system are highlighted. The paper also describes the implementation of the typewriter. It starts from a detailed diagram of the wiring and connections between the component elements, up to the presentation and commentary of how to create the program for the microcontroller used. Finally, the testing and operation of this CNC is detailed, from the design of the drawing to its actual realization, with the help of the designed and implemented assembly. CNC systems allow the repetitive production of the same parts, exactly the same and without deviations. Unlike a human operator who cannot execute two identical parts, the repeatability achieved by machines with numerical controls is clearly superior, so the reproducibility component is ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid PVT solar systems offer an innovative approach that allows solar energy to be used to simultaneously generate thermal and electrical energy. It is still a challenge to develop an energy-efficient hybrid PVT system. The aim of this work is to develop a mathematical model, investigate the system's performance based on parameters, include sensitivity analysis in the upper layer mainly photovoltaic part, and provide an efficient and innovative system. Performance analysis of the hybrid system is obtained by establishing a mathematical model and efficiency analysis. The electrical model and thermal model of the hybrid system is also obtained by appropriate and complete mathematical modeling. It establishes a good connection of the system in the context of electrical analysis and power generation. The parameters variation impact and sensitivity analysis of the most important parameters, namely, irradiance, ambient temperature, panel temperature, wind speed, and humidity in the PV panel section, are also obtained using a MATLAB model. The results show the effective increase or decrease in the electrical power and sensitiveness in the output of the system due to this modification. Related MPP values as a result of these parameters variation and their impact on the overall output of the hybrid PVT system are also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, noise pollution has been recognized as a significant environmental issue, and using sustainable materials as sound-absorbing building materials have drawn considerable attention. The influence of graded perforations on the acoustic characteristics of a 3D printed bio-degradable thick micro-perforated panel (MPP) having graded perforation and made of Poly Lactic Acid is presented. Thicker panels are considered owing to the mechanical strength required for practical wall applications. A fused deposition modeling based 3D printer is used to fabricate the MPPs with graded cylindrical perforations and different patterning of perforations. The sound absorption coefficient is measured using the impedance tube technique and compared with theoretical results obtained using an equivalent electro-acoustic model. Results revealed that for normal incidence, the absorption coefficient is only dependent on the overall perforation ratio of the panel, irrespective of the perforation gradation and patterning of perforation. This gives the freedom to distribute the perforation aesthetically for interior wall application. This work also proposes the effective perforation ratio approach to predict the sound absorption coefficient (SAC) of MPPs with graded perforation. For multi-thickness MPPs and MPPs with linearly graded thickness, improved sound absorption characteristics were observed both in terms of bandwidth of absorption and peak value of SAC compared to the conventional constant thickness MPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a photovoltaic permanent magnet synchronous motor pumping system (PVPMSM), both photovoltaic modules and switching-mode converters present nonlinear and time-variant characteristics, which result in a difficult control problem. This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the operating point dynamics. A potential trade-off exists between maximum power and stability of the system operating point. Analysis of parametric singularities based on bifurcation theory permits to optimize the maximum power-stability trade-off. Tracing the bifurcation structures related to the parameter set (T, G), we can determine the maximum power point(MPP) in midway and far enough from the bifurcation points from these structures. An algorithm aiming to determine the MPP within the range of stability through power bifurcation analysis is proposed in this paper. Our methodology was validated with the simulation that was carried out on MATCONT/MATLAB, and the results are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiparental populations (MPPs) encompass greater genetic diversity than traditional experimental crosses of two inbred strains, enabling broader surveys of genetic variation underlying complex traits. Two such mouse MPPs are the Collaborative Cross (CC) inbred panel and the Diversity Outbred (DO) population, which are descended from the same eight inbred strains. Additionally, the F1 intercrosses of CC strains (CC-RIX) have been used and enable study designs with replicate outbred mice. Genetic analyses commonly used by researchers to investigate complex traits in these populations include characterizing how heritable a trait is, i.e. its heritability, and mapping its underlying genetic loci, i.e. its quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Here we evaluate the relative merits of these populations for these tasks through simulation, as well as provide recommendations for performing the quantitative genetic analyses. We find that sample populations that include replicate animals, as possible with the CC and CC-RIX, provide more efficient and precise estimates of heritability. We report QTL mapping power curves for the CC, CC-RIX, and DO across a range of QTL effect sizes and polygenic backgrounds for samples of 174 and 500 mice. The utility of replicate animals in the CC and CC-RIX for mapping QTLs rapidly decreased as traits became more polygenic. Only large sample populations of 500 DO mice were well-powered to detect smaller effect loci (7.5-10%) for highly complex traits (80% polygenic background). All results were generated with our R package musppr, which we developed to simulate data from these MPPs and evaluate genetic analyses from user-provided genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila melanogaster has proved an effective system with which to understand the evolutionary genetics and molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance. Insecticide use has left signatures of selection in the fly genome, and both functional and quantitative genetic studies in the system have identified genes and variants associated with resistance. Here, we use D. melanogaster and leverage a bulk phenotyping and pooled sequencing "extreme quantitative trait loci" approach to genetically dissect variation in resistance to malathion, an organophosphate insecticide. We resolve 2 quantitative trait loci, one of which implicates allelic variation at the cytochrome P450 gene Cyp6g1, a strong candidate based on previous work. The second shows no overlap with hits from a previous genome-wide association study for malathion resistance, recapitulating other studies showing that different strategies for complex trait dissection in flies can yield apparently different architectures. Notably, we see no genetic signal at the Ace gene. Ace encodes the target of organophosphate insecticide inhibition, and genome-wide association studies have identified strong Ace-linked associations with resistance in flies. The absence of quantitative trait locus implicating Ace here is most likely because our mapping population does not segregate for several of the known functional polymorphisms impacting resistance at Ace, perhaps because our population is derived from flies collected prior to the widespread use of organophosphate insecticides. Our fundamental approach can be an efficient, powerful strategy to dissect genetic variation in resistance traits. Nonetheless, studies seeking to interrogate contemporary insecticide resistance variation may benefit from deriving mapping populations from more recently collected strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control signals of the variable-weather-parameter (VWP) methods need to be calculated by the real-time measured data of the irradiance and temperature (I&T) sensors, which leads to the high hardware cost of the sensors. To solve this problem, the PV system with a DC bus is selected as the research subject and a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method is proposed. It is named the VWP MPPT method based on the equation solution (ES-VWP method). Its control signal is directly calculated by the solution of an established equation set rather than data measured by the I&T sensors. This equation set consists of two integrated mathematical equations, which represent two different operating points of the PV system. Meanwhile, when the bus voltage is varying or unknown, a calculation method that can estimate the real-time value of the DC bus voltage is proposed. In addition, an implementation method corresponding to the ES-VWP method is also designed. Finally, some simulation experiments are carried out to verify the availability and feasibility of the ES-VWP method. Meanwhile, some simulation experiments show that the error of the equation solution is less than 0.0001. In addition, some simulation experiments illustrate that the MPPT settling times of the ES-VWP method are always less than one-tenth of the P&O method (or one-sixth of the FLC method). Compared with the existing VWP methods, it can be implemented without the use of I&T sensors or external I&T data. Meanwhile, compared with other existing MPPT methods, its better MPPT rapidity originating from the advantage of the VWP methods is inherited. This work is the first attempt to design a novel MPPT method by obtaining the real-time equation solutions of V o c and I s c . Meanwhile, this work is also the first attempt to solve the real-time equation of V b u s by the solved V o c and I s c . In addition, this work is also the first attempt to design an implementation method for establishing an equation set by sampling two operating points of a PV system at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic groups have been widely adopted in tree breeding to account for provenance effects within pedigree-derived relationship matrices. However, provenances or genetic groups have not yet been incorporated into single-step genomic BLUP (“HBLUP”) analyses of tree populations. To quantify the impact of accounting for population structure in Eucalyptus globulus, we used HBLUP to compare breeding value predictions from models excluding base population effects and models including either fixed genetic groups or the marker-derived proxies, also known as metafounders. Full-sib families from 2 separate breeding populations were evaluated across 13 sites in the “Green Triangle” region of Australia. Gamma matrices (C) describing similarities among metafounders reflected the geographic distribution of populations and the origins of 2 land races were identified. Diagonal elements of C provided population diversity or allelic covariation estimates between 0.24 and 0.56. Genetic group solutions were strongly correlated with metafounder solutions across models and metafounder effects influenced the genetic solutions of base population parents. The accuracy, stability, dispersion, and bias of model solutions were compared using the linear regression method. Addition of genomic information increased accuracy from 0.41 to 0.47 and stability from 0.68 to 0.71, while increasing bias slightly. Dispersion was within 0.10 of the ideal value (1.0) for all models. Although inclusion of metafounders did not strongly affect accuracy or stability and had mixed effects on bias, we nevertheless recommend the incorporation of metafounders in prediction models to represent the hierarchical genetic population structure of recently domesticated populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gossypium barbadense possesses a superior fiber quality because of its fiber length and strength. An in-depth analysis of the underlying genetic mechanism could aid in filling the gap in research regarding fiber strength and could provide helpful information for Gossypium barbadense breeding. Three quantitative trait loci related to fiber strength were identified from a Gossypium barbadense recombinant inbred line (PimaS-7 × 5917) for further analysis. RNA sequencing was performed in the fiber tissues of PimaS-7 × 5917 0–35 days postanthesis. Four specific modules closely related to the secondary wall-thickening stage were obtained using the weighted gene coexpression network analysis. In total, 55 genes were identified as differentially expressed from 4 specific modules. Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were used for enrichment analysis, and Gbar_D11G032910, Gbar_D08G020540, Gbar_D08G013370, Gbar_D11G033670, and Gbar_D11G029020 were found to regulate fiber strength by playing a role in the composition of structural constituents of cytoskeleton and microtubules during fiber development. Quantitative real-time PCR results confirmed the accuracy of the transcriptome data. This study provides a quick strategy for exploring candidate genes and provides new insights for improving fiber strength in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Collaborative Cross and the Diversity Outbred mouse populations are related multiparental populations, derived from the same 8 isogenic founder strains. They carry >50 M known genetic variants, which makes them ideal tools for mapping genetic loci that regulate phenotypes, including physiological and molecular traits. Mapping quantitative trait loci requires statistical and computational training, which can present a barrier to access for some researchers. The QTLViewer software allows users to graphically explore Collaborative Cross and Diversity Outbred quantitative trait locus mapping and related analyses performed through the R/qtl2 package. Additionally, the QTLViewer website serves as a repository for published Collaborative Cross and Diversity Outbred studies, increasing the accessibility of these genetic resources to the broader scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Stiff Stalk heterotic pool is a foundation of US maize seed parent germplasm and has been heavily utilized by both public and private maize breeders since its inception in the 1930s. Flowering time and plant height are critical characteristics for both inbred parents and their test crossed hybrid progeny. To study these traits, a 6-parent multiparent advanced generation intercross population was developed including maize inbred lines B73, B84, PHB47 (B37 type), LH145 (B14 type), PHJ40 (novel early Stiff Stalk), and NKH8431 (B73/B14 type). A set of 779 doubled haploid lines were evaluated for flowering time and plant height in 2 field replicates in 2016 and 2017, and a subset of 689 and 561 doubled haploid lines were crossed to 2 testers, respectively, and evaluated as hybrids in 2 locations in 2018 and 2019 using an incomplete block design. Markers were derived from a practical haplotype graph built from the founder whole genome assemblies and genotype-by-sequencing and exome capture-based sequencing of the population. Genetic mapping utilizing an update to R/qtl2 revealed differing profiles of significant loci for both traits between 635 of the DH lines and 2 sets of 570 and 471 derived hybrids. Genomic prediction was used to test the feasibility of predicting hybrid phenotypes based on the per se data. Predictive abilities were highest on direct models trained using the data they would predict (0.55-0.63), and indirect models trained using per se data to predict hybrid traits had slightly lower predictive abilities (0.49-0.55). Overall, this finding is consistent with the overlapping and nonoverlapping significant quantitative trait loci found within the per se and hybrid populations and suggests that selections for phenology traits can be made effectively on doubled haploid lines before hybrid data is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid potato breeding has become a novel alternative to conventional potato breeding allowing breeders to overcome intractable barriers (e.g. tetrasomic inheritance, masked deleterious alleles, obligate clonal propagation) with the benefit of seed-based propagule, flexible population design, and the potential of hybrid vigor. Until now, however, no formal inquiry has adequately examined the relevant genetic components for complex traits in hybrid potato populations. In this present study, we use a 2-step multivariate modeling approach to estimate the variance components to assess the magnitude of the general and specific combining abilities in diploid hybrid potato. Specific combining ability effects were identified for all yield components studied here warranting evidence of nonadditive genetic effects in hybrid potato yield. However, the estimated general combining ability effects were on average 2 times larger than their respective specific combining ability quantile across all yield phenotypes. Tuber number general combining abilities and specific combining abilities were found to be highly correlated with total yield's genetic components. Tuber volume was shown to have the largest proportion of additive and nonadditive genetic variation suggesting under-selection of this phenotype in this population. The prominence of additive effects found for all traits presents evidence that the mid-parent value alone is useful for hybrid potato evaluation. Heterotic vigor stands to be useful in bolstering simpler traits but this will be dependent on target phenotypes and market requirements. This study represents the first diallel analysis of its kind in diploid potato using material derived from a commercial hybrid breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flame retardant system based on expandable graphite (EG), aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlPI) and melamine polyphosphate (MPP) was investigated in glass fiber- (GF) reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6). Burning characteristics were evaluated via cone calorimeter, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 tests. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and coupled Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate the decomposition process as well as flame retardant modes of actions. Specifically, in the cone calorimeter tests, formulations containing EG showed excellent flame retardant properties for non-reinforced and reinforced PA6. The best performance was achieved for 25 wt.% glass fiber-reinforced PA6 containing solely 20 wt.% EG, corresponding to a measured pHRR of 134 kW/m2 and a total smoke production of 1.2 m2. Higher glass fiber contents of 45 wt.% (30 vol.%) revealed a lower char volume, which was attributed to both the limited space available for expansion and the sheer-induced reduction in particle size during processing. All of the reinforced PA6 formulations only achieved V2 classifications, but this was at low filling degrees (10 wt.%) for both net EG or EG/AlPi/MPP combinations. For GF-reinforced PA6 containing EG/AlPi/MPP mixtures, a synergistic effect was found to improve the oxygen index up to 30.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power quality management is a widespread requirement in this renewal energy source (RES) integrated environment. A few of the key challenges faced during power quality management are total harmonic distortion (THD), poor power factor and reactive power compensation. This paper tries to improve these power quality issues using synchronous reference frame (SRF) theory-based distributed static compensator (DSTATCOM). An Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) algorithm has been used to optimize the operation of the DSTATCOM and to obtain maximum power from a PV array. This algorithm optimizes the requirement of compensating current from the PV fed DSTATCOM to make the source current smoother. System dynamic performance is investigated in the presence of balanced/unbalanced nonlinear and reactive loads. The results obtained using ANFIS- and SRF-based methods are compared to other conventional/AI-based methods and found to be superior. The proposed method is validated in real time using Opal-RT on FPGA computation engine to closely emulate actual hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, the study of belowground traits is gaining momentum due to their importance on yield formation and the uptake of water and nutrients. In several cereal crops, seminal root number and seminal root angle are proxy traits of the root system architecture at the mature stages, which in turn contributes to modulating the uptake of water and nutrients. Along with seminal root number and seminal root angle, experimental evidence indicates that the transpiration rate response to evaporative demand or vapor pressure deficit is a key physiological trait that might be targeted to cope with drought tolerance as the reduction of the water flux to leaves for limiting transpiration rate at high levels of vapor pressure deficit allows to better manage soil moisture. In the present study, we examined the phenotypic diversity of seminal root number, seminal root angle, and transpiration rate at the seedling stage in a panel of 8-way Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Crosses lines of winter barley and correlated these traits with grain yield measured in different site-by-season combinations. Second, phenotypic and genotypic data of the Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Crosses population were combined to fit and cross-validate different genomic prediction models for these belowground and physiological traits. Genomic prediction models for seminal root number were fitted using threshold and log-normal models, considering these data as ordinal discrete variable and as count data, respectively, while for seminal root angle and transpiration rate, genomic prediction was implemented using models based on extended genomic best linear unbiased predictors. The results presented in this study show that genome-enabled prediction models of seminal root number, seminal root angle, and transpiration rate data have high predictive ability and that the best models investigated in the present study include first-order additive x additive epistatic interaction effects. Our analyses indicate that beyond grain yield, genomic prediction models might be used to predict belowground and physiological traits and pave the way to practical applications for barley improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for quantitative trait loci that explain complex traits such as yield and drought tolerance has been ongoing in all crops. Methods such as biparental quantitative trait loci mapping and genome-wide association studies each have their own advantages and limitations. Multiparent advanced generation intercross populations contain more recombination events and genetic diversity than biparental mapping populations and are better able to estimate effect sizes of rare alleles than association mapping populations. Here, we discuss the results of using a multiparent advanced generation intercross population of doubled haploid maize lines created from 16 diverse founders to perform quantitative trait loci mapping. We compare 3 models that assume bi-allelic, founder, and ancestral haplotype allelic states for quantitative trait loci. The 3 methods have differing power to detect quantitative trait loci for a variety of agronomic traits. Although the founder approach finds the most quantitative trait loci, all methods are able to find unique quantitative trait loci, suggesting that each model has advantages for traits with different genetic architectures. A closer look at a well-characterized flowering time quantitative trait loci, qDTA8, which contains vgt1, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each method and suggests a potential epistatic interaction. Overall, our results reinforce the importance of considering different approaches to analyzing genotypic datasets, and shows the limitations of binary SNP data for identifying multiallelic quantitative trait loci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common step in the analysis of multiparent populations (MPPs) is genotype reconstruction: identifying the founder origin of haplotypes from dense marker data. This process often makes use of a probability model for the pattern of founder alleles along chromosomes, including the relative frequency of founder alleles and the probability of exchanges among them, which depend on a model for meiotic recombination and on the mating design for the population. While the precise experimental design used to generate the population may be used to derive a precise characterization of the model for exchanges among founder alleles, this can be tedious, particularly given the great variety of experimental designs that have been proposed. We describe an approximate model that can be applied for a variety of MPPs. We have implemented the approach in the R/qtl2 software, and we illustrate its use in applications to publicly available data on Diversity Outbred and Collaborative Cross mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great advantage of using solar energy, compared to other forms of energy, is that it can be produced without affecting the environment through pollution. Another advantage of using solar energy is the fact that it is free, autonomous, inexhaustible, ecological (nonpolluting), the installation does not require any kind of maintenance and is not influenced by price increases. This paper deals with the issue of increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in generation of electricity. As a result of our documentation and research, we present a comparative overview of the maximum power point track methods, proposing the use of artificial intelligence, especially artificial neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the dual‐mode control to improve the power quality (PQ) of three‐phase four‐wire grid interfaced photovoltaic (PV) battery system in a single‐stage configuration, where the current control is used at normal circumstances for the grid‐interactive mode and for the grid interruption, the system operation is through the voltage control. The transient free switching between grid interactive and off‐grid modes is executed by a power electronics switch, thus at disconnection, the system gives reliable and incessant power to the loads. The weight of the active current constituent from the load current is acquired using Mathew's algorithm‐based adaptive filter. The voltage control regulates the frequency and voltage across the loads in off‐grid mode. The current control used for a voltage source converter mends the PQ namely current harmonics extenuations and unity power factor operation and it utilizes the solar PV's array power feed‐forward unit for the enhancement of the system's dynamic performance. The incremental conductance technique is applied for obtaining the maximum PV array's power. The addition of a battery across the DC link is realised using a DC–DC buck‐boost converter. The battery is discharged and charged in accord with the load's variation. This converter's control sustains the maximum power point tracking voltage. The system's performances for the steady‐state and dynamic situations, such as solar insolation change, load perturbation, load unbalancing and neutral current compensation, are authenticated on a developed prototype through test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In species with single-locus, chromosome-based mechanisms of sex determination, the laws of segregation predict an equal ratio of females to males at birth. Here, we show that departures from this Mendelian expectation are commonplace in the 8-way recombinant inbred Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse population. More than one-third of CC strains exhibit significant sex ratio distortion (SRD) at wean, with twice as many male-biased than female-biased strains. We show that these pervasive sex biases persist across multiple breeding environments, are stable over time, and are not mediated by random maternal effects. SRD exhibits a heritable component, but QTL mapping analyses fail to nominate any large effect loci. These findings, combined with the reported absence of sex ratio biases in the CC founder strains, suggest that SRD manifests from multilocus combinations of alleles only uncovered in recombined CC genomes. We explore several potential complex genetic mechanisms for SRD, including allelic interactions leading to sex-biased lethality, genetic sex reversal, chromosome drive mediated by sex-linked selfish elements, and incompatibilities between specific maternal and paternal genotypes. We show that no one mechanism offers a singular explanation for this population-wide SRD. Instead, our data present preliminary evidence for the action of distinct mechanisms of SRD at play in different strains. Taken together, our work exposes the pervasiveness of SRD in the CC population and nominates the CC as a powerful resource for investigating diverse genetic causes of biased sex chromosome transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, multiparental populations have become a mainstay of genetics research in diploid species. Our goal was to extend this paradigm to autotetraploids by developing software for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in connected F1 populations derived from a set of shared parents. For QTL discovery, phenotypes are regressed on the dosage of parental haplotypes to estimate additive effects. Statistical properties of the model were explored by simulating half-diallel diploid and tetraploid populations with different population sizes and numbers of parents. Across scenarios, the number of progeny per parental haplotype (pph) largely determined the statistical power for QTL detection and accuracy of the estimated haplotype effects. Multiallelic QTL with heritability 0.2 were detected with 90% probability at 25 pph and genome-wide significance level 0.05, and the additive haplotype effects were estimated with over 90% accuracy. Following QTL discovery, the software enables a comparison of models with multiple QTL and nonadditive effects. To illustrate, we analyzed potato tuber shape in a half-diallel population with three tetraploid parents. A well-known QTL on chromosome 10 was detected, for which the inclusion of digenic dominance lowered the Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) by 17 points compared to the additive model. The final model also contained a minor QTL on chromosome 1, but higher-order dominance and epistatic effects were excluded based on the DIC. In terms of practical impacts, the software is already being used to select offspring based on the effect and dosage of particular haplotypes in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a Diversity Outbred mouse project with genotype data on 500 mice, including 297 with microbiome data, we identified three sets of sample mix-ups (two pairs and one trio) as well as at least 15 microbiome samples that appear to be mixtures of pairs of mice. The microbiome data consisted of shotgun sequencing reads from fecal DNA, used to characterize the gut microbial communities present in these mice. These sequence reads included sufficient reads derived from the host mouse to identify the individual. A number of microbiome samples appeared to contain a mixture of DNA from two mice. We describe a method for identifying sample mix-ups in such microbiome data, as well as a method for evaluating sample mixtures in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiparental Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) populations are valuable crop resources with a wide array of research uses including genetic mapping of complex traits, management of genetic resources and breeding of new varieties. Multiple founders are crossed to create a rich mosaic of highly recombined founder genomes in the MAGIC recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Many variations of MAGIC population designs exist; however, a large proportion of the currently available populations have been created empirically and based on similar designs. In our evaluations of five MAGIC populations, we found that the choice of designs has a large impact on the recombination landscape in the RILs. The most popular design used in many MAGIC populations has been shown to have a bias in recombinant haplotypes and low level of unique recombinant haplotypes, and therefore is not recommended. To address this problem and provide a remedy for the future, we have developed the "magicdesign" R package for creating and testing any MAGIC population design via simulation. A Shiny app version of the package is available as well. Our "magicdesign" package provides a unifying tool and a framework for creativity and innovation in MAGIC population designs. For example, using this package, we demonstrate that MAGIC population designs can be found which are very effective in creating haplotype diversity without the requirement for very large crossing programs. Furthermore, we show that interspersing cycles of crossing with cycles of selfing is effective in increasing haplotype diversity. These approaches are applicable in species that are hard to cross or in which resources are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of photovoltaic modules and their subsequent loss of performance has a serious impact on the total energy generation potential. The lack of real-time information on the output power leads to additional losses since the panels may not be operating at their optimal point. To understand the behaviour, numerically simulate the characteristics and identify the optimal operating point of a photovoltaic cell, the parameters of an equivalent electrical circuit must first be identified. The aim of this work is to develop a total least-squares based algorithm which can identify those parameters from the output voltage and current measurements, taking into consideration the uncertainties on both measured quantities. This work presents a comparative study of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Total Least Squares (TLS) approaches to the estimation of the parameters of a photovoltaic cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In diploid species, many multiparental populations have been developed to increase genetic diversity and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping resolution. In these populations, haplotype reconstruction has been used as a standard practice to increase the power of QTL detection in comparison with the marker-based association analysis. However, such software tools for polyploid species are few and limited to a single biparental F1 population. In this study, a statistical framework for haplotype reconstruction has been developed and implemented in the software PolyOrigin for connected tetraploid F1 populations with shared parents, regardless of the number of parents or mating design. Given a genetic or physical map of markers, PolyOrigin first phases parental genotypes, then refines the input marker map, and finally reconstructs offspring haplotypes. PolyOrigin can utilize single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data coming from arrays or from sequencebased genotyping; in the latter case, bi-allelic read counts can be used (and are preferred) as input data to minimize the influence of genotype calling errors at low depth. With extensive simulation we show that PolyOrigin is robust to the errors in the input genotypic data and marker map. It works well for various population designs with ≥ 30 offspring per parent and for sequences with read depth as low as 10x. PolyOrigin was further evaluated using an autotetraploid potato dataset with a 3×3 half-diallel mating design. In conclusion, PolyOrigin opens up exciting new possibilities for haplotype analysis in tetraploid breeding populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying genetic variation of gene expression provides a powerful way to unravel the molecular components underlying complex traits. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) studies have been performed in several different model species, yet most of these linkage studies have been based on the genetic segregation of two parental alleles. Recently, we developed a multiparental segregating population of 200 recombinant inbred lines (mpRILs) derived from four wild isolates (JU1511, JU1926, JU1931, and JU1941) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We used RNA-seq to investigate how multiple alleles affect gene expression in these mpRILs. We found 1789 genes differentially expressed between the parental lines. Transgression, expression beyond any of the parental lines in the mpRILs, was found for 7896 genes. For expression QTL mapping almost 9000 SNPs were available. By combining these SNPs and the RNA-seq profiles of the mpRILs, we detected almost 6800 eQTLs. Most trans-eQTLs (63%) co-locate in six newly identified trans-bands. The trans-eQTLs found in previous two-parental allele eQTL experiments and this study showed some overlap (17.5-46.8%), highlighting on the one hand that a large group of genes is affected by polymorphic regulators across populations and conditions, on the other hand, it shows that the mpRIL population allows identification of novel gene expression regulatory loci. Taken together, the analysis of our mpRIL population provides a more refined insight into C. elegans complex trait genetics and eQTLs in general, as well as a starting point to further test and develop advanced statistical models for detection of multiallelic eQTLs and systems genetics studying the genotype--phenotype relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-step GBLUP (HBLUP) efficiently combines genomic, pedigree, and phenotypic information for holistic genetic analyses of disjunct breeding populations. We combined data from two independent multigenerational Eucalyptus globulus breeding populations to provide direct comparisons across the programs and indirect predictions in environments where pedigreed families had not been evaluated. Despite few known pedigree connections between the programs, genomic relationships provided the connectivity required to create a uni- fied relationship matrix, H, which was used to compare pedigree-based and HBLUP models. Stem volume data from 48 sites spread across three regions of southern Australia and wood quality data across 20 sites provided comparisons of model accuracy. Genotyping proved valuable for correcting pedigree errors and HBLUP more precisely defines relationships within and among populations, with relationships among the genotyped individuals used to connect the pedigrees of the two programs. Cryptic relationships among the native range populations provided evidence of population structure and evidence of the origin of landrace populations. HBLUP across programs improved the prediction accuracy of parents and genotyped individuals and enabled breeding value predictions to be directly compared and inferred in regions where little to no testing has been undertaken. The impact of incorporating genetic groups in the estimation of H will further align traditional genetic evaluation pipelines with approaches that incorporate marker-derived relationships into prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the inception of research on hollow silica, the use of hollow nanosilica (HNS) as additives in barrier materials has not been reported. In this study, we evaluated the capacity of HNS as an additive in modified polypropylene (MPP). According to X-ray diffraction (XRD), the crystallinity, tensile strength, and thermal stability of MPP/HNS nanocomposite containing 0.1 phr HNS approached maximum values. Moreover, the nanocomposite had the best performance in terms of water vapor barrier and oxygen resistance. The reasons for the improvement in barrier performance were discussed. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that HNS at a low content dispersed well in MPP. In conclusion, the synthesized HNS can be used as an additive in barrier materials, and it would have potential applications in the fields of food packaging films and storage containers or materials. Hollow nanosilica was synthesized, and then it was used as an additive in modified polypropylene to prepare nanocomposites. These new nanocomposites show excellent properties, such as tensile strength, barrier performances and thermostability. The new nanocomposites could be widely used in packaging materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multipoint pacing (MPP) has been proposed as an effective way to improve cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) response. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluating the efficacy of CRT delivered via MPP compared to conventional CRT. Methods: A literature search was performed from inception to January 2021 for studies in Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases, comparing MPP to conventional CRT with a minimum of 6 months follow‐up. Randomised and nonrandomised studies were assessed for relevant efficacy data including echocardiographic (left ventricular end systolic volume [LVESV] and ejection fraction) or functional changes (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class/Clinical Composite Score). Subgroup analyses were performed by study design and programming type. Results: A total of 7 studies with a total of 1390 patients were included in the final analysis. Overall, MPP demonstrated greater echocardiographic improvement than conventional CRT in nonrandomised studies (odds ratio [OR]: 5.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [3.05–9.33], p <.001), however, was not significant in randomised studies (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: [0.91–3.79], p =.086). There was no significant difference in LVESV reduction >15% (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: [0.69–5.55], p =.20) or improvement by ≥1 NYHA class (OR: 2.49, 95% CI: [0.74–8.42], p =.141) when comparing MPP to conventional CRT. In a sub analysis, MPP programmed by widest anatomical separation (MPP‐AS) signalled greater efficacy, however, only 120 patients were included in this analysis. Conclusion: Overall MPP was more efficacious in nonrandomised studies, and not superior when assessed in randomised studies. There was considerable heterogeneity in study design making overall interpretation of results challenging. Widespread MPP programming in all CRT patients is currently not justified. Further large, randomised studies with patient‐specific programming may clarify its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article asks (1) what megatrends are likely to significantly influence public sector roles and in what ways and (2) how might higher education institutions better prepare public sector leaders for the future shaped by these trends. While public sector leadership in every region, country and locality is unique, they are exposed to the same set of global megatrends. Therefore, this article teases out general insights, observations and implications for public sector leaders and educators by focusing on the effects of these trends. Design/methodology/approach: The article is informed by a review and synthesis of relevant academic and practitioner sources and is complemented by the authors' survey (n = 64) of public affairs practitioners and educators. The survey is not representative and is used to supplement other inferences from the literature. Findings: The key megatrends reshaping public sector jobs include demographic and climate changes, technological advances and deepening social fragmentation. The confluence of such trends has increasingly strained the public sector's capacity to respond to present challenges, let alone prepare for the future. The future public sector leaders can benefit from new competencies, including ability to think systematically, see the big picture and ability to solve complex problems. Ideally, they would also have a strong capacity to foster collaboration and cohesion among diverse stakeholders, to model ethical and inclusive behavior, to accommodate, facilitate and bridge competing and conflicting viewpoints and become creative innovators and doers who can operate in increasingly complex environments, while navigating and reshaping their governments' outdated institutional structures. Research limitations/implications: The key trends reshaping public sector jobs include environmental, demographic and technological factors and deepening social fragmentation. The confluence of such factors has increasingly strained the public sector's capacity to respond to present challenges, let alone prepare for the future. The authors observe that the future of public sector practitioners may benefit from new competencies including digital and data fluency, high emotional intelligence, who are also big picture thinkers who understand global megatrends and their impacts locally. Ideally, they would have a strong capacity to foster cohesion among fragmented and polarized communities, to model ethical and inclusive behavior, to accommodate, facilitate and bridge diverse viewpoints and become creative innovators and doers who can operate in increasingly complex environments, while navigating and reshaping their governments' outdated institutional structures. Practical implications: The megatrends listed above have significant implications for public sector leaders and educators who train them. Social implications: There is a new awareness about the need to train public sector workers on diversity and inclusion issues. This paper discusses global trends through this lens. Originality/value: This synthesis of the literature from academic and practitioner sources, supplemented with the original survey of educators and professionals, intends to open up a conversation about the future of public affairs leadership and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic association studies seek to uncover the link between genotype and phenotype, and often utilize inbred reference panels as a replicable source of genetic variation. However, inbred reference panels can differ substantially from wild populations in their genotypic distribution, patterns of linkage-disequilibrium, and nucleotide diversity. As a result, associations discovered using inbred reference panels may not reflect the genetic basis of phenotypic variation in natural populations. To address this problem, we evaluated a mapping population design where dozens to hundreds of inbred lines are outbred for few generations, which we call the Hybrid Swarm. The Hybrid Swarm approach has likely remained underutilized relative to pre-sequenced inbred lines due to the costs of genome-wide genotyping. To reduce sequencing costs and make the Hybrid Swarm approach feasible, we developed a computational pipeline that reconstructs accurate whole genomes from ultra-low-coverage (0.05X) sequence data in Hybrid Swarm populations derived from ancestors with phased haplotypes. We evaluate reconstructions using genetic variation from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel as well as variation from neutral simulations. We compared the power and precision of Genome-Wide Association Studies using the Hybrid Swarm, inbred lines, recombinant inbred lines (RILs), and highly outbred populations across a range of allele frequencies, effect sizes, and genetic architectures. Our simulations show that these different mapping panels vary in their power and precision, largely depending on the architecture of the trait. The Hybrid Swam and RILs outperform inbred lines for quantitative traits, but not for monogenic ones. Taken together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of the Hybrid Swarm as a cost-effective method of fine-scale genetic mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum bicolor, a photosynthetically efficient C4 grass, represents an important source of grain, forage, fermentable sugars, and cellulosic fibers that can be utilized in myriad applications ranging from bioenergy to bioindustrial feedstocks. Sorghum’s efficient fixation of carbon per unit time per unit area per unit input has led to its classification as a preferred biomass crop highlighted by its designation as an advanced biofuel by the U.S. Department of Energy. Due to its extensive genetic diversity and worldwide colonization, sorghum has considerable diversity for a range of phenotypes influencing productivity, composition, and sink/source dynamics. To dissect the genetic basis of these key traits, we present a sorghum carbon-partitioning nested association mapping (NAM) population generated by crossing 11 diverse founder lines with Grassl as the single recurrent female. By exploiting existing variation among cellulosic, forage, sweet, and grain sorghum carbon partitioning regimes, the sorghum carbon-partitioning NAM population will allow the identification of important biomassassociated traits, elucidate the genetic architecture underlying carbon partitioning and improve our understanding of the genetic determinants affecting unique phenotypes within Poaceae. We contrast this NAM population with an existing grain population generated using Tx430 as the recurrent female. Genotypic data are assessed for quality by examining variant density, nucleotide diversity, linkage decay, and are validated using pericarp and testa phenotypes to map known genes affecting these phenotypes. We release the 11-family NAM population along with corresponding genomic data for use in genetic, genomic, and agronomic studies with a focus on carbonpartitioning regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caenorhabditis elegans multiparental experimental evolution (CeMEE) panel is a collection of genome-sequenced, cryopreserved recombinant inbred lines useful for mapping the evolution and genetic basis of quantitative traits. We have expanded the resource with new lines and new populations, and here report the genotype and haplotype composition of CeMEE version 2, including a large set of putative de novo mutations, and updated additive and epistatic mapping simulations. Additive quantitative trait loci explaining 4% of trait variance are detected with >80% power, and the median detection interval approaches single-gene resolution on the highly recombinant chromosome arms. Although CeMEE populations are derived from a long-term evolution experiment, genetic structure is dominated by variation present in the ancestral population [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggest that apoptosis, autophagy and dysregulation of signaling pathways are common mechanisms involved in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis, and thus development of therapeutic agents targeting these mechanisms may be useful for the treatment of this disease. Although rutin (a bioflavonoid) is reported to have pharmacological benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, there are very few reports on the activity of this compound in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced PD models. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of rutin on apoptosis, autophagy and cell signaling markers (AKT/AMPK) in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to MPP+. Results show reduced changes in nuclear morphology and mitigation of caspase 3/7 and 9 activities in rutin pre-treated cells exposed to MPP+. Likewise, rutin regulated cell signaling pathways (AKT/AMPK) and significantly decreased protein expression levels of cleaved PARP, cytochrome c, LC3-II and p62. Also, rutin significantly increased protein expression levels of full-length caspase 3 in SH-SY5Y cells treated with MPP+. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images demonstrated a reduction in autophagosomes in rutin-pretreated SH-SY5Y cells exposed to MPP+. These results provide experimental support for rutin's neuroprotective activity against MPP+-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, which is as a promising therapeutic agent for clinical trials in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A range of heavy metals are required for normal cell function and homeostasis. However, the anthropogenic release of metal compounds into soil and water sources presents a pervasive health threat. Copper is one of many heavy metals that negatively impacts diverse organisms at a global scale. Using a combination of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and RNA sequencing in the Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource, we demonstrate that resistance to the toxic effects of ingested copper in D. melanogaster is genetically complex and influenced by allelic and expression variation at multiple loci. QTL mapping identified several QTL that account for a substantial fraction of heritability. Additionally, we find that copper resistance is impacted by variation in behavioral avoidance of copper and may be subject to life-stage specific regulation. Gene expression analysis further demonstrated that resistant and sensitive strains are characterized by unique expression patterns. Several of the candidate genes identified via QTL mapping and RNAseq have known copper-specific functions (e.g., Ccs, Sod3, CG11825), and others are involved in the regulation of other heavy metals (e.g., Catsup, whd). We validated several of these candidate genes with RNAi suggesting they contribute to variation in adult copper resistance. Our study illuminates the interconnected roles that allelic and expression variation, organism life stage, and behavior play in copper resistance, allowing a deeper understanding of the diverse mechanisms through which metal pollution can negatively impact organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiparental populations (MPPs) are experimental populations in which the genome of every individual is a mosaic of known founder haplotypes. These populations are useful for detecting quantitative trait loci (QTL) because tests of association can leverage inferred founder haplotype descent. It is difficult, however, to determine how haplotypes at a locus group into distinct functional alleles, termed the allelic series. The allelic series is important because it provides information about the number of causal variants at a QTL and their combined effects. In this study, we introduce a fully Bayesian model selection framework for inferring the allelic series. This framework accounts for sources of uncertainty found in typical MPPs, including the number and composition of functional alleles. Our prior distribution for the allelic series is based on the Chinese restaurant process, a relative of the Dirichlet process, and we leverage its connection to the coalescent to introduce additional prior information about haplotype relatedness via a phylogenetic tree. We evaluate our approach via simulation and apply it to QTL from two MPPs: the Collaborative Cross (CC) and the Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (DSPR). We find that, although posterior inference of the exact allelic series is often uncertain, we are able to distinguish biallelic QTL from more complex multiallelic cases. Additionally, our allele-based approach improves haplotype effect estimation when the true number of functional alleles is small. Our method, Tree-Based Inference of Multiallelism via Bayesian Regression (TIMBR), provides new insight into the genetic architecture of QTL in MPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a third order complex filter (TOCF) based control technique is used for a double stage grid tied solar photovoltaic (PV) system. The PV array generates the real power and provides it to the load connected and remaining to the utility. The voltage source converter functions as a distribution static compensator and improves power quality of the grid by mitigating harmonics, balancing of the grid currents with unity power factor. It also performs well under weak grid scenario like voltage distortion, grid faults, DC offset, voltage unbalances and swell/sag. The main objective of this work is positive sequence components extraction from unbalanced voltages for unit templates estimation and TOCF algorithm extracts the fundamental component of the load currents. A PV power term is applied for improved system performance. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of control algorithm at various dynamic conditions by simulating the behavior of the system in MATLAB. Tests are conducted on an experimental setup realized in the laboratory at different abnormal situations like load unbalancing, voltage unbalance, voltage distortions, voltage swell/sag, insolation change, DSTATCOM-PV mode and PV-DSTATCOM mode etc. The system operation is found satisfactory and distortion levels in grid currents are found in bounds, as suggested in IEEE standard-519. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma concentration of Cystatin C (CysC) level is a biomarker of glomerular filtration rate in the kidney. We use a Systems Genetics approach to investigate the genetic determinants of plasma CysC concentration. To do so we perform Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) and expression QTL (eQTL) analysis of 120 Diversity Outbred (DO) female mice, 56 weeks of age. We performed network analysis of kidney gene expression to determine if the gene modules with common functions are associated with kidney biomarkers of chronic kidney diseases. Our data demonstrates that plasma concentrations and kidney mRNA levels of CysC are associated with genetic variation and are transcriptionally coregulated by immune genes. Specifically, Type-I interferon signaling genes are coexpressed with Cst3 mRNA levels and associated with CysC concentrations in plasma. Our findings demonstrate the complex control of CysC by genetic polymorphisms and inflammatory pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced-generation multiparent populations (MPPs) are a valuable tool for dissecting complex traits, having more power than genome-wide association studies to detect rare variants and higher resolution than F2 linkage mapping. To extend the advantages of MPPs in budding yeast, we describe the creation and characterization of two outbred MPPs derived from 18 genetically diverse founding strains. We carried out de novo assemblies of the genomes of the 18 founder strains, such that virtually all variation segregating between these strains is known, and represented those assemblies as Santa Cruz Genome Browser tracks. We discovered complex patterns of structural variation segregating among the founders, including a large deletion within the vacuolar ATPase VMA1, several different deletions within the osmosensor MSB2, a series of deletions and insertions at PRM7 and the adjacent BSC1, as well as copy number variation at the dehydrogenase ALD2. Resequenced haploid recombinant clones from the two MPPs have a median unrecombined block size of 66 kb, demonstrating that the population is highly recombined. We pool-sequenced the two MPPs to 32703 and 22263 coverage and demonstrated that we can accurately estimate local haplotype frequencies using pooled data. We further downsampled the pool-sequenced data to -20-403 and showed that local haplotype frequency estimates remained accurate, with median error rates 0.8 and 0.6% at 203 and 403, respectively. Haplotypes frequencies are estimated much more accurately than SNP frequencies obtained directly from the same data. Deep sequencing of the two populations revealed that 10 or more founders are present at a detectable frequency for .98% of the genome, validating the utility of this resource for the exploration of the role of standing variation in the architecture of complex traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to investigate the synergies between aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlPi) and phosphonate-based phosphorus–nitrogen (P–N) flame retardants (FRs) in glass fiber-reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate) (GF-PBT), novel piperazine analogue-based P–N FRs were synthesized. The thermal degradation and flame-retarding performance when cooperating with a commercial AlPi product, Exolit OP 1240, were determined, and their synergistic results were compared with a well-known melamine polyphosphate (MPP) synergist. As a result of TGA, SEM, and FTIR analyses, it was found that the phosphonate-based P–N FRs yielded improved synergism even with a lower P % content loading compared to MPP. To achieve a V-0 rating, the P content loading of piperazine analogue-based P–N FRs was 0.43% in the GF-PBT/OP1240 mixture at a 13.3 phr loading while that of MPP should be higher than 0.53% in the same formulation. The P content is the governing factor in the fire-retarding efficiency of phosphonate-based P–N FRs, which was well correlated with OP1240 in the gas phase. It is demonstrated that the combination of piperazine analogue-based P–N FRs with OP1240 significantly improves both thermal stability and flame retardancy of GF-PBT material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic basis of complex trait like learning and memory have been well studied over the decades. Through those groundbreaking findings, we now have a better understanding about some of the genes and pathways that are involved in learning and/or memory. However, few of these findings identified the naturally segregating variants that are influencing learning and/or memory within populations. In this special issue honoring the legacy of Troy Zars, we review some of the traditional approaches that have been used to elucidate the genetic basis of learning and/or memory, specifically in fruit flies. We highlight some of his contributions to the field, and specifically describe his vision to bring together behavior and quantitative genomics with the aim of expanding our knowledge of the genetic basis of both learning and memory. Finally, we present some of our recent work in this area using a multiparental population (MPP) as a case study and describe the potential of this approach to advance our understanding of neurogenetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been extensive discussion of the "Replication Crisis" in many fields, including genomewide association studies (GWAS). We explored replication in a mouse model using an advanced intercross line (AIL), which is a multigenerational intercross between two inbred strains. We re-genotyped a previously published cohort of LG/J x SM/J AILmice (F34; n = 428) using a denser marker set and genotyped a new cohort of AIL mice (F39-43; n = 600) for the first time. We identified 36 novel genome-wide significant loci in the F34 and 25 novel loci in the F39-43 cohort. The subset of traits that were measured in both cohorts (locomotor activity, body weight, and coat color) showed high genetic correlations, although the SNP heritabilities were slightly lower in the F39-43 cohort. For this subset of traits, we attempted to replicate loci identified in either F34 or F39-43 in the other cohort. Coat color was robustly replicated; locomotor activity and body weight were only partially replicated, which was inconsistent with our power simulations. We used a random effects model to show that the partial replications could not be explained by Winner's Curse but could be explained by study-specific heterogeneity. Despite this heterogeneity, we performed a mega-analysis by combining F34 and F39-43 cohorts (n = 1,028), which identified four novel loci associated with locomotor activity and body weight. These results illustrate that even with the high degree of genetic and environmental control possible in our experimental system, replication was hindered by study-specific heterogeneity, which has broad implications for ongoing concerns about reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To extract the maximum solar power from the photovoltaic (PV) panel/array with the high conversion efficiency under partial shading condition (PSC), this paper discusses a new and an efficient maximum power point (MPP) tracking algorithm. The proposed algorithm is based on the bio-inspired salp swarm optimization (SSO), and the algorithm forecasts the global MPP (GMPP) with the fast convergence to GMPP and high tracking efficiency. The SSO algorithm thus reduces the computational burden as encountered in whale optimization algorithm (WOA), and gray wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm discussed in the various literatures. The modeling and simulation of the proposed SSO algorithm are done with the help of Matlab/Simulink software to validate the effectiveness to locate the MPP during PSCs. The simulation results prove that the proposed SSO algorithm exhibits a high PV power output with the tracking efficiency of more than 95% at the faster convergence rate to GMPP. The SSO algorithm is experimentally verified on the conventional boost converter under different shading conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among pediatric patients hospitalized for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), the risk factors for 90-day readmission after discharge is undefined.Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients <14 years of age who were discharged with a diagnosis of MPP between January 2016 and February 2017. We collected clinical, laboratory and radiographic variables at the time of initial admission. We assessed pneumonia-related readmission within 90-day after discharge. Risk factors independently associated with rehospitalization were identified using multiple logistic regression models.Results: Of the 424 MPP hospitalizations, 48 (11.3%) were readmitted within 90 days and were mainly diagnosed with pneumonia. Patients with younger age or coinfection with influenza A were more likely to be readmitted. In addition, compared with children without readmission, the readmission ones showed different clinical and laboratory characteristics at the index hospital admission. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified age (OR 0.815, 95%CI 0.706-0.940) and body temperature (OR 0.659, 95%CI 0.518-0.839) were significantly associated with lower risk of 90-day readmission. Coinfection with influenza was independently associated with a greater likelihood of 90-day readmission (OR 4.746, 95%CI 1.191-18.913).Conclusions: Readmission after MPP are common and is related to patients' age, body temperature and influenza A coinfection during initial hospital stay, indicating potential targets could be noticed to reduce the rehospitalization after pediatric MPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) are an important resource for mapping genes controlling complex traits in many species. While RIL populations have been developed for maize, a maize RIL population with multiple teosinte inbred lines as parents has been lacking. Here, we report a teosinte nested association mapping (TeoNAM) population, derived from crossing five teosinte inbreds to the maize inbred line W22. The resulting 1257 BC1S4 RILs were genotyped with 51,544 SNPs, providing a high-density genetic map with a length of 1540 cM. On average, each RIL is 15% homozygous teosinte and 8% heterozygous. We performed joint linkage mapping (JLM) and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for 22 domestication and agronomic traits. A total of 255 QTL from JLM were identified, with many of these mapping near known genes or novel candidate genes. TeoNAM is a useful resource for QTL mapping for the discovery of novel allelic variation from teosinte. TeoNAM provides the first report that PROSTRATE GROWTH1, a rice domestication gene, is also a QTL associated with tillering in teosinte and maize. We detected multiple QTL for flowering time and other traits for which the teosinte allele contributes to a more maize-like phenotype. Such QTL could be valuable in maize improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of empirical population genetic studies have tried to understand the evolutionary processes that have shaped genetic variation in a single sample taken from a present-day population. However, genomic data collected over tens of generations in both natural and laboratory populations are increasingly used to find selected loci underpinning adaptation over these short timescales. Although these studies have been quite successful in detecting selection on large-effect loci, the fitness differences between individuals are often polygenic, such that selection leads to allele frequency changes that are difficult to distinguish from genetic drift. However, one promising signal comes from polygenic selection's effect on neutral sites that become stochastically associated with the genetic backgrounds that lead to fitness differences between individuals. Previous theoretical work has established that the random associations between a neutral allele and heritable fitness backgrounds act to reduce the effective population size experienced by this neutral allele. These associations perturb neutral allele frequency trajectories, creating autocovariance in the allele frequency changes across generations. Here, we show how temporal genomic data allow us to measure the temporal autocovariance in allele frequency changes and characterize the genome-wide impact of polygenic selection. We develop expressions for these temporal autocovariances, showing that their magnitude is determined by the level of additive genetic variation, recombination, and linkage disequilibria in a region. Furthermore, by using analytic expressions for the temporal variances and autocovariances in allele frequency, we demonstrate that one can estimate the additive genetic variation for fitness and the drift-effective population size from temporal genomic data. We also show how the proportion of total variation in allele frequency change due to linked selection can be estimated from temporal data. Overall, we demonstrate that temporal genomic data offer opportunities to identify the role of linked selection on genome-wide diversity over short timescales, and can help bridge population genetic and quantitative genetic studies of adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the role of the estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) in of the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic area (POA-AHA) in the regulation of ovulation in rats. The number of ERα- and ERβ-immunoreactive (-ir) cells was determined at 09:00, 13:00, and 17:00 h of each stage of the estrous cycle in intact rats. Additionally, the effects of blocking ERα and ERβ on ovulation rate at 09:00 h on diestrus-2 or proestrus day through the microinjection of methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP) or cyclofenil in either side of POA-AHA were evaluated. The number of ERα-ir and ERβ-ir cells in POA-AHA varied in each phase of estrous cycle. Either MPP or cyclofenil in the right side of POA-AHA on diestrus-2 day reduced the ovulation rate, while at proestrus day it was decreased in rats treated in either side with MPP, and in those treated with cyclofenil in the left side. MPP or cyclofenil produced a decrease in the surge of luteinizing hormone levels (LH) and an increase in progesterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Replacement with synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in non-ovulating rats treated with MPP or cyclofenil restored ovulation. These results suggest that activation of estrogen receptors on the morning of diestrus-2 and proestrus day asymmetrically regulates ovulation and appropriately regulates the secretion of FSH and progesterone in the morning and afternoon of proestrus day. This ensures that both, the preovulatory secretion of LH and ovulation, occur at the right time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]