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Structural model for hybrid media, angle-ply reinforced in the plane allowing one to determine the yield loci for the composition considering the plane stress state in all components is constructed. The materials of the composition are homogeneous, isotropic and have different yield strengths in tension and compression. Their mechanical behavior is described by the associated flow rule for rigid-plastic bodies with the quadratic yield conditions. The yield loci for metal compositions with low-strength and high-strength binder and for glass-plastic composition are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are found across eukaryotes and can function in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Their biogenesis through a circle-forming backsplicing reaction is facilitated by reverse-complementary repetitive sequences promoting pre-mRNA folding. Orthologous genes from which circRNAs arise, overall contain more strongly conserved splice sites and exons than other genes, yet it remains unclear to what extent this conservation reflects purifying selection acting on the circRNAs themselves. Our analyses of circRNA repertoires from five species representing three mammalian lineages (marsupials, eutherians: rodents, primates) reveal that surprisingly few circRNAs arise from orthologous exonic loci across all species. Even the circRNAs from orthologous loci are associated with young, recently active and species-specific transposable elements, rather than with common, ancient transposon integration events. These observations suggest that many circRNAs emerged convergently during evolution - as a byproduct of splicing in orthologs prone to transposon insertion. Overall, our findings argue against widespread functional circRNA conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General combining ability (GCA) is an important index for inbred lines breeding of maize. To identify the genetic loci of GCA and associated agronomic traits, an association analysis with 195 SSRs was made in phenotypic traits of 240 F1 derived from 120 elite inbred lines containing current breeding resources of maize crossed with 2 testers (Zheng58 and Chang7-2) in two places in 2018. All of the 20 association loci detected for grain yield (GY), plant height (PH), ear height (EH) and GCA for the three traits in two places could explain a phenotypic variation range of 7.31%-9.29%. Among the 20 association loci, 9 (7.31%-9.04%) were associated with GY, 4 (7.22%-8.91%) were related to GCA of GY, 1 (7.56%) was associated with PH, and 3 (7.53%-8.96%) were related to EH. In addition, 3 loci (9.14%-9.29%) were associated with GCA of PH whereas no locus was identified for GCA of EH. In the comparison of the association loci detected in Baoding and Handan, interestingly, one locus (7.69% and 8.11%) was identified in both environments and one locus (7.52% and 7.82%) was identified for yield and GCA of yield. Therefore, the identification of GY-, PH-, EH- and GCA-related association loci could not only provide references for high yield breeding of maize, but also help us comprehend the relationships among GY, agricultural traits and GCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of antimicrobial resistant bacteria coupled with a void in antibiotic development marks Antimicrobial Resistance as one of the biggest current threats to modern medicine. Antimicrobial metals are being developed and used as alternative anti-infectives, however, the existence of known resistance mechanisms and limited data regarding bacterial responses to long-term metal exposure are barriers to widespread implementation. In this study, a panel of reference and clinical strains of major nosocomial pathogens were subjected to serial dosage cycles of silver and ciprofloxacin. Populations exposed to silver initially showed no change in sensitivity, however, increasingly susceptibility was observed after the 25th cycle. A control experiment with ciprofloxacin revealed a selection for resistance over time, with silver treated bacteria showing faster adaptation. Morphological analysis revealed filamentation in Gram negative species suggesting membrane perturbation, while sequencing of isolated strains identified mutations in numerous genes. These included those encoding for efflux systems, chemosensory systems, stress responses, biofilm formation and respiratory chain processes, although no consistent locus was identified that correlated with silver sensitivity. These results suggest that de novo silver resistance is hard to select in a range of nosocomial pathogens, although silver exposure may detrimentally impact sensitivity to antibiotics in the long term. The adaptability of microbial life continuously calls for the development of novel antibiotic molecules, however, the cost and risk associated with their discovery have led to a drying up in the pipeline, causing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be a major threat to healthcare. From all available strategies, antimicrobial metals and, more specifically, silver showcase large bactericidal spectrum and limited toxic effect which coupled with a large range of processes available for their delivery made these materials as a clear candidate to tackle AMR. Previous reports have shown the ability of this metal to enact a synergistic effect with other antimicrobial therapies, nevertheless, the discovery of Ag resistance mechanisms since the early 70s and limited knowledge on the long term influence of silver on AMR poses a threat to their applicability. The present study provides quantitative data on the influence of silver based therapies on AMR development for a panel of reference and clinical strains of major nosocomial pathogens, revealing that prolonged silver exposure may detrimentally impact sensitivity to antibiotics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear dynamic features of compression roller batteries were investigated together with their nonlinear response to primary resonance excitation and to internal interactions between modes. Starting from a parametric nonlinear model based on a previously developed Lagrangian formulation, asymptotic treatment of the equations of motion was first performed to characterize the nonlinearity of the lowest nonlinear normal modes of the system. They were found to be characterized by a softening nonlinearity associated with the stiffness terms. Subsequently, a direct time integration of the equations of motion was performed to compute the frequency response curves (FRCs) when the system is subjected to direct harmonic excitations causing the primary resonance of the lowest skew-symmetric mode shape. The method of multiple scales was then employed to study the bifurcation behavior and deliver closed-form expressions of the FRCs and of the loci of the fold bifurcation points, which provide the stability regions of the system. Furthermore, conditions for the onset of internal resonances between the lowest roller battery modes were found, and a 2:1 resonance between the third and first modes of the system was investigated in the case of harmonic excitation having a frequency close to the first mode and the third mode, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis , is a complex disease. The risk of developing active TB is in part determined by host genetic factors. Most genetic studies investigating TB susceptibility fail to replicate association signals particularly across diverse populations. South African populations arose because of multi-wave genetic admixture from the indigenous KhoeSan, Bantu-speaking Africans, Europeans, Southeast Asian-and East Asian populations. This has led to complex genetic admixture with heterogenous patterns of linkage disequilibrium and associated traits. As a result, precise estimation of both global and local ancestry is required to prevent both false positive and false-negative associations. Here, 820 individuals from South Africa were genotyped on the SNP-dense Illumina Multi-Ethnic Genotyping Array (∼1.7M SNPs) followed by local and global ancestry inference using RFMix. Local ancestry adjusted allelic association (LAAA) models were utilized owing to the extensive genetic heterogeneity present in this population. Hence, an interaction term, comprising the identification of the minor allele that corresponds to the ancestry present at the specific locus under investigation, was included as a covariate. One SNP (rs28647531) located on chromosome 4q22 was significantly associated with TB susceptibility and displayed a SNP minor allelic effect (G allele, frequency = 0.204) whilst correcting for local ancestry for Bantu-speaking African ancestry (p -value = 5.518 × 10−7; OR = 3.065; SE = 0.224). Although no other variants passed the significant threshold, clear differences were observed between the lead variants identified for each ancestry. Furthermore, the LAAA model robustly captured the source of association signals in multi-way admixed individuals from South Africa and allowed the identification of ancestry-specific disease risk alleles associated with TB susceptibility that have previously been missed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary relationships of Salvia have been difficult to estimate. In this study, we used the Next Generation Sequencing method Hyb-Seq to evaluate relationships among 90 Lamiaceae samples, including representatives of Mentheae, Ocimeae, Salvia subgenera Audibertia, Leonia, Salvia , and 69 species of subgenus Calosphace , representing 32 of Epling's sections. A bait set was designed in MarkerMiner using available transcriptome data to enrich 119 variable nuclear loci. Nuclear and chloroplast loci were assembled with hybphylomaker (HPM), followed by coalescent approach analyses for nuclear data (ASTRAL, BEAST) and a concatenated Maximum Likelihood analysis of chloroplast loci. The HPM assembly had an average of 1,314,368 mapped reads for the sample and 527 putative exons. Phylogenetic inferences resolved strongly supported relationships for the deep-level nodes, agreeing with previous hypotheses which assumed that subgenus Audibertia is sister to subgenus Calosphace. Within subgenus Calosphace , we recovered eight monophyletic sections sensu Epling, Cardinalis, Hastatae, Incarnatae , and Uricae in all the analyses (nDNA and cpDNA), Biflorae, Lavanduloideae , and Sigmoideae in nuclear analyses (ASTRAL, BEAST) and Curtiflorae in ASTRAL trees. Network analysis supports deep node relationships, some of the main clades, and recovers reticulation within the core Calosphace. The chloroplast phylogeny resolved deep nodes and four monophyletic Calosphace sections. Placement of S. axillaris is distinct in nuclear evidence and chloroplast, as sister to the rest of the S. subg. Calosphace in chloroplast and a clade with " Hastatae clade" sister to the rest of the subgenus in nuclear evidence. We also tested the monophyly of S. hispanica, S. polystachia, S. purpurea , and S. tiliifolia , including two samples of each, and found that S. hispanica and S. purpurea are monophyletic. Our baits can be used in future studies of Lamiaceae phylogeny to estimate relationships between genera and among species. In this study, we presented a Hyb-Seq phylogeny for complex, recently diverged Salvia , which could be implemented in other Lamiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the adult β-globin gene can lead to a variety of hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. An increase in fetal hemoglobin expression throughout adulthood, a condition named hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH), has been found to ameliorate hemoglobinopathies. Deletional HPFH occurs through the excision of a significant portion of the 3′ end of the β-globin locus, including a CTCF binding site termed 3′HS1. Here, we show that the deletion of this CTCF site alone induces fetal hemoglobin expression in both adult CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and HUDEP-2 erythroid progenitor cells. This induction is driven by the ectopic access of a previously postulated distal enhancer located in the OR52A1 gene downstream of the locus, which can also be insulated by the inversion of the 3′HS1 CTCF site. This suggests that genetic editing of this binding site can have therapeutic implications to treat hemoglobinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The male sterility trait is an economically essential feature for the exploitation of hybrid vigour in onions; hence, scientists have looked into the molecular component of male sterility in onions. As a result, numerous molecular markers associated with male‐sterile (CMS‐S and CMS‐T) cytoplasms, male‐fertile normal (N) cytoplasm and nuclear‐male‐fertility restorers (Ms locus) were developed. The discovered markers have proven to be helpful in the effective selection and isolation of male‐sterile lines, their maintainer lines and restorer‐of‐fertility lines. These lines are required for breeding F1 hybrid to harness heterosis through marker‐assisted selection (MAS) of cytoplasmic genotypes with Ms or ms loci. Thus, the study came up with a compilation of molecular markers, by revealing their molecular perspective, practical utility and functional effectiveness in the MAS of male‐sterile cytoplasm types with nuclear‐fertility‐restorer locus, to speed up onion breeding, development of F1 hybrids and production of pure hybrid seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We collect some results on endomorphisms on projective varieties related to the Kawaguchi–Silverman conjecture. We discuss certain conditions on automorphism groups of projective varieties and positivity conditions on leading real eigendivisors of self-morphisms. We prove Kawaguchi–Silverman conjecture for endomorphisms on projective bundles on a smooth Fano variety of Picard number one. In the last section, we discuss endomorphisms and augmented base loci of their eigendivisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For d ≥ 4 , the Noether–Lefschetz locus NL d parametrizes smooth, degree d surfaces in ℙ 3 with Picard number at least 2. A conjecture of Harris states that there are only finitely many irreducible components of the Noether–Lefschetz locus of non-maximal codimension. Voisin showed that the conjecture is false for sufficiently large d , but is true for d ≤ 5. She also showed that for d = 6 , 7 , there are finitely many reduced, irreducible components of NL d of non-maximal codimension. In this paper, we prove that for any d ≥ 6 , there are infinitely many non-reduced irreducible components of NL d of non-maximal codimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cylix tupareomanaia, new genus and species, is described from three specimens (35.5-55.5 mm SL), collected from rocky reefs at 12-17mdepth from Taitokerau Northland, New Zealand. The new taxon shares morphological synapomorphies with the superficially similar Australian endemic Idiotropiscis and Indo-Pacific Acentronura, including head angled ventrally approximately 258 from the principal body axis, enclosed brood pouch, brood pouch plates, prehensile tail, and absence of caudal fin. Cylix tupareomanaia, new genus and species, however, is distinguishable from all other members of the Syngnathidae by the following combination of bony autapomorphic characters: a cup-like crest present anterodorsally on the supraoccipital; and large conspicuous midventral conical spines on the cleithral symphysis and first trunk ring between the pectoral-fin bases. The new species can be further differentiated by genetic divergence in the mitochondrial COX1 gene from Acentronura breviperula, A. tentaculata, Idiotropiscis australe, and I. lumnitzeri (estimated uncorrected p-distances of 19.5%, 20.4%, 17.9%, and 18.4%, respectively). A phylogenetic hypothesis from the analysis of two nuclear loci, 18S and TMO-4C4, supports the placement of C. tupareomanaia, new genus and species, as the sister taxon to a clade comprising the genera Acentronura and Idiotropiscis. Cylix tupareomanaia, new genus and species, represents the eighth member within the pygmy pipehorse clade to be described from the Indo-Pacific and the first new genus and species of syngnathid to be reported from New Zealand since 1921. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terraranae is a large clade of New World direct-developing frogs that includes 3–5 families and >1,100 described species (∼15% of all named frog species). The relationships among major groups of terraranan frogs have been highly contentious, including conflicts among four recent phylogenomic studies utilizing 95, 220, 389, and 2,214 nuclear loci, respectively. In this paper, we re-evaluate relationships within Terraranae using a novel genomic dataset for 16 ingroup species representing most terraranan families and subfamilies. The preferred data matrix consisted of 2,665 nuclear loci from ultraconserved elements (UCEs), with a total of 743,419 aligned base pairs and 57% missing data. Concatenated likelihood analyses and coalescent-based species-tree analyses recovered strong statistical support for the following relationships among terraranan families: (Brachycephalidae, (Eleutherodactylidae, (Craugastoridae + 'Strabomantidae'))). This position for Brachycephalidae agrees with two previous phylogenomic studies but conflicts with two others. Our results infer Strabomantis (of the Strabomantidae) to be with (or within) Craugastor (Craugastoridae), rather than with other strabomantid genera. This renders Strabomantidae paraphyletic with respect to Craugastoridae. Our results also suggest that Pristimantinae is paraphyletic with respect to Holoadeninae. We also find that using matrices with less missing data (and concomitantly fewer UCE loci) generally resulted in trees with lower mean branch support and problematic phylogenies (e.g. non-monophyly of terraranans). Overall, our results help resolve controversial relationships within one of the largest clades of frogs, with a dataset including ∼7 times more loci than those used in previous studies focused on this clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) has been exclusively used to produce F1 hybrid seeds of onion (Allium cepa L.). A single nuclear locus, Ms, is known to restore male-fertility of CMS in onions. Unstable male-sterile onions producing a small amount of pollen grains have been identified in a previous study. When such unstable male-sterile onions were crossed with stable male-sterile onions containing CMS-R cytoplasm, male-fertility was completely restored, although genotypes of the Ms locus were homozygous recessive. Inheritance patterns indicated that male-fertility restoration was controlled by a single locus designated as Ms2. A combined approach of bulked segregant analysis and RNA-seq was used to identify candidate genes for the Ms2 locus. High resolution melting markers were developed based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected by RNA-Seq. Comparative mapping of the Ms2 locus showed that Ms2 was positioned at the end of chromosome 2 with a distance of approximately 70 cM away from the Ms locus. Although 38 contigs containing reliable SNPs were analyzed using recombinants selected from 1344 individuals, no contig showed perfect linkage to Ms2. Interestingly, transcription levels of orf725, a CMS-associated gene in onions, were significantly reduced in male-fertile individuals of segregating populations. However, no significant change in its transcription level was observed in individuals of a segregating population with male-fertility genotypes determined by the Ms locus, suggesting that male-fertility restoration mechanism of Ms2 might be different from that of the Ms locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The runtime analysis of evolutionary algorithms using crossover as search operator has recently produced remarkable results indicating benefits and drawbacks of crossover and illustrating its working principles. Virtually all these results are restricted to upper bounds on the running time of the crossover-based algorithms. This work addresses this lack of lower bounds and rigorously bounds the optimization time of simple algorithms using uniform crossover on the search space { 0 , 1 } n from below via two novel techniques called decoupling and family graphs. First, a simple steady-state crossover-based evolutionary algorithm without selection pressure is analyzed and shown that after O (μ log μ) generations, bit positions are sampled almost independently with marginal probabilities corresponding to the fraction of one-bits at the corresponding position in the initial population. In the presence of weak selective pressure induced by the probabilistic application of tournament selection, it is demonstrated that the inheritance probability at an arbitrary locus quickly approaches a uniform distribution over the initial population up to additive factors that depend on the effect of selection. Afterwards, the algorithm is analyzed by a novel generalization of the family tree technique originally introduced for mutation-only EAs. Using these so-called family graphs, almost tight lower bounds on the optimization time on the OneMax benchmark function are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let X be a smooth projective complex curve of genus g ≥ 2 and let MX(2,Λ) be the moduli space of semi-stable rank-2 vector bundles over X with fixed determinant Λ. We show that the wobbly locus, i.e. the locus of semi-stable vector bundles admitting a non-zero nilpotent Higgs field, is a union of divisors 𝓦k ⊂ MX(2,Λ). We show that on one wobbly divisor the set of maximal subbundles is degenerate. We also compute the class of the divisors 𝓦k in the Picard group of MX(2, Λ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified many genetic variants that are risk factors for numerous immune-mediated diseases. In particular, different immune-mediated diseases have been found to share the same susceptibility loci. Therefore, exploring the genetic overlap between atopic dermatitis (AD) and other immune-mediated diseases in more detail may help identify additional shared susceptibility loci among common immune-mediated diseases. Recent evidence suggests that the 11q23.3 locus is a susceptibility locus shared among multiple immune-mediated diseases. Objective: This study was designed to investigated whether SNPs at the chromosome 11q23.3 locus are associated with AD in the Han Chinese population. Methods: In total, 16 SNPs within the 11q23.3 locus were genotyped using TaqMan assays for 1,012 AD cases and 1,362 controls. From these SNPs, we selected rs638893 with an association values of p < 5 × 10−2 for AD for further analysis in an independent replication study using the Sequenom MassARRAY system to genotype an additional (consisting of 1,288 cases and 1,380 controls). The combined analyses were performed in two stages using a meta-analytical method. Results: We identified a common variant at 11q23.3 (rs638893), that was significantly associated (p = 1.58 × 10−3, OR = 1.22) with AD. The genotype-based association analysis revealed that the recessive model provided the best fit for rs638893. Conclusion: Our study identified a variant on chromosome 11q23.3 that likely confers susceptibility to AD, thereby advancing our understanding of the genetic basis of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscale studies of aquatic ecosystems are needed to address many contemporary broad‐scale problems related to global change, particularly to inform national‐scale environmental policies. In this data paper, we fill two important gaps in data availability for lakes at the scale of the conterminous U.S., the lack of: (1) high‐resolution geographic representations of lakes and their watersheds and (2) an open data platform to connect disparate U.S. national‐scale lake datasets. We describe the LAGOS‐US LOCUS v1.0 data module that includes a detailed User Guide, which is part of the LAGOS‐US extensible research‐ready open data platform. This platform can be used to study the 479,950 lakes and reservoirs larger than or equal to 1 ha across the entire conterminous U.S. at multiple scales of space and time. The LOCUS module includes spatially‐explicit information on lakes and their watersheds, including location information, physical characteristics, and identifiers of other important national‐scale datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The locus of θ = def k μ ; μ = 0 for bundles of light rays emitted at noncentral points is investigated for Lemaître-Tolman (L-T) models. The three loci that coincide for a central emission point: (1) maxima of R along the rays, (2) θ = 0, (3) R = 2 M are all different for a noncentral emitter. If an extremum of R along a nonradial ray exists, then it must lie in the region R > 2 M. In 2 M < R ≤ 3 M it can only be a maximum; in R > 3 M both minima and maxima can exist. The intersection of (1) with the equatorial hypersurface (EHS) ϑ = π/2 is numerically determined for an exemplary toy model (ETM), for two typical emitter locations. The equation of (2) is derived for a general L-T model, and its intersection with the EHS in the ETM is numerically determined for the same two emitter locations. Typically, θ has no zeros or two zeros along a ray, and becomes +∞ at the Big Crunch (BC). The only rays on which θ → -∞ at the BC are the radial ones. Along rays on the boundaries between the no-zeros and the two-zeros regions θ has one zero, but still tends to +∞ at the BC. When the emitter is sufficiently close to the center, θ has 4 or 6 zeros along some rays (resp. 3 or 5 on the boundary rays). For noncentral emitters in a collapsing L-T model, R = 2 M is still the ultimate barrier behind which events become invisible from outside; loci (1) and (2) are not such barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape is the visual impression formed in the mind of the aesthetic subject from what he sees at a certain viewpoint. A good viewpoint field is a place without visual barrier in the visual direction. Under the premise of analyzing aesthetic basis of expressway, starting from behavioral basis of dynamic vision, visual behavior characteristics of drivers at high speed are studied. On this basis, landscape experience tempo and rhythm determined by gaze locus under different linear characteristics are explored, and the impact of spatial alignment on gaze behavior and landscape experience is further analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An immunocompromised district is an area of irregular immune control of the skin occurring due to cutaneous damage of any sort conducive to the development of infections, immune reactions, and tumors. Superficial dermatophytoses are one of the most commonly encountered cutaneous infections, which, in some cases, may have various atypical presentations. Herein, we present a series of eleven such cases in which the presentation of a superficial dermatophytosis was altered by the concurrent presence of a different unrelated dermatosis on the same anatomical site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clubroot is an important disease infectible to cruciferous plants and a major threat to rapeseed production in Japan. However, no clubroot resistant rapeseed cultivars have been released. We surveyed pathotype variation of six isolates collected from rapeseed fields and found they were classified as pathotype groups 2 and 4 using Japanese F1 Chinese cabbage cultivars. We produced the resynthesized clubroot resistant Brassica napus harboring two resistant loci, Crr1 and Crr2, by interspecific crossing and developed resistant rapeseed lines for southern and northern regions by marker-assisted selection and backcrossing. We improved the DNA marker for erucic acid content to remove linkage drag between Crr1 and high erucic acid content and successfully selected lines with clubroot resistance and zero erucic acid for northern regions. A novel line, 'Tohoku No. 106', suitable for southern regions showed stable resistance against all six isolates and high performance in infested fields. We conclude that Crr1 and Crr2 are important genes for CR rapeseed breeding and marker-assisted selection is effective in improving clubroot resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Thakkhola graben is a large-scale N-S striking, E-W extensional structure located in west-central Nepal that was actively extending ca. 17 Ma. New multi-system geochronological data from the immediate footwall of the Dangardzong fault, the main graben-forming structure in the Thakkhola graben, outline decelerating cooling paths. The cooling rate of the footwall progressively decreases from 55 ± 10°C/Myr in the early Miocene (~22–13 Ma, monazite U-Th/Pb, mica 40Ar/39Ar and zircon U-Th/He), to 23 ± 8°C/Myr in the middle to late Miocene (~13-8 Ma, zircon and apatite U-Th/He), and finally to 10 ± 2°C/Myr from 8 Ma to present day (cooling post apatite U-Th/He closure). The deceleration in cooling rate is interpreted to reflect the widespread development of N-S striking graben structures in the Tibetan plateau in the middle Miocene and the progressive partitioning of strain away from the Thakkhola graben into other, younger, extensional features. The shift in the locus of strain may reflect the progressive under-thrusting of India beneath the Tibetan plateau and/or the eastward flow of mid-to-lower crustal material away from the plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevotella copri is a bacterium that can be found in the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The role of P. copri in the GIT is unclear, and elevated numbers of the microbe have been reported both in dietary fiber-induced improvement in glucose metabolism but also in conjunction with certain inflammatory conditions. These findings raised our interest in investigating the possibility of P. copri to grow on xylan, and identify the enzyme systems playing a role in digestion of xylan-based dietary fibers. Two xylan degrading polysaccharide utilizing loci (PUL10 and 15) were found in the genome, with three and eight glycoside hydrolase (GH) -encoding genes, respectively. Three of them were successfully produced in Escherichia coli : One extracellular enzyme from GH43 (subfamily 12, in PUL10, 60 kDa) and two enzymes from PUL15, one extracellular GH10 (41 kDa), and one intracellular GH43 (subfamily 137 kDa). Based on our results, we propose that in PUL15, GH10 (1) is an extracellular endo-1,4-β-xylanase, that hydrolazes mainly glucuronosylated xylan polymers to xylooligosaccharides (XOS); while, GH43_1 in the same PUL, is an intracellular β-xylosidase, catalyzing complete hydrolysis of the XOS to xylose. In PUL10, the characterized GH43_12 is an arabinofuranosidase, with a role in degradation of arabinoxylan, catalyzing removal of arabinose-residues on xylan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution seismic, core, and chronological data from the Quaternary Golo deepsea fans, offshore Corsica, France, give new insights into rates of submarine fan growth. Average vertical deposition rates for units that represent the Late Pleistocene glacial periods are 0.1-0.5 m/k.y. Glacial-age deposits are sand rich; in contrast, post-glacial deposits lack a significant sand fraction and are dominated by carbonate-rich mud. As a result, seismically constrained volumetric rates of deposition for glacial periods with low sea level and a subaerially exposed shelf are ~0.23 km3/k.y., 2×-5× higher than rates during interglacials when sea level is high, the shelf is submerged, and sand is trapped in shallowmarine environments. At millennial time scales, variations in deposition rate reflect climatedriven sea-level changes, autogenic avulsion of river channels that extend across the shelf during low sea level, and autogenic avulsion of submarine channels that shift the locus of deposition laterally. Short-term deposition rates range from 8.6 m/k.y. at proximal portions of submarine fans to 0.4 m/k.y. along the distal fringe. Our data show that submarine fans can be dynamic environments with formation and evolution of levee-confined channels and lobe complexes in 103-104 yr, comparable to the time scales needed to form fluvial channel belts and delta lobes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the Quot scheme QLn=QuotA3(IL,n) parameterising length n quotients of the ideal sheaf of a line in A3 is a global critical locus, and calculate the resulting motivic partition function (varying n), in the ring of relative motives over the configuration space of points in A3. As in the work of Behrend–Bryan–Szendrői, this enables us to define a virtual motive for the Quot scheme of n points of the ideal sheaf IC⊂OY, where C⊂Y is a smooth curve embedded in a smooth 3‐fold Y, and we compute the associated motivic partition function. The result fits into a motivic wall‐crossing type formula, refining the relation between Behrend's virtual Euler characteristic of QuotY(IC,n) and of the symmetric product SymnC. Our 'relative' analysis leads to results and conjectures regarding the pushforward of the sheaf of vanishing cycles along the Hilbert–Chow map QLn→Symn(A3), and connections with cohomological Hall algebra representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the efficacy of prisms when used for redirection of incoming images towards the preferred reinal loci (PRLs) for restitution of potential visual acuity (PVA) in low vision cases with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Retrospective comparative interventional case series review. Low vision rehabilitation (LVR) protocol used included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), PVA, topographic PRL identification and use of prisms to produce image redirection to the presumed PRL. The primary outcome measure selected for analysis was BCVA for viewing distance targets after use of yoke prisms. Image relocation with prisms in patients with AMD resulted in significantly better BCVA levels (t 32 = 8.57, p < 0.0001) in the better eye. Distance BCVA levels achieved were almost identical to PVA levels (t 32 = 0.415, p < 0.681) (y= -0.136 + 1.195x, r = 0.8333, p < 0.001). Use of yoke prisms for image redirection towards a peripheral identifiable PRL may result in PVA restitution in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Regent' is the fungal resistant grapevine cultivar with the highest acreage in Germany and an important resistance donor in international breeding programs. It carries the resistance loci Rpv3.1 as well as Ren3 and Ren9 against downy and powdery mildew, respectively. As the parents of 'Chambourcin', the resistant paternal ancestor of 'Regent', did not coincide with the breeder's information, the germplasm repository of JKI Geilweilerhof was screened to find the missing ancestors. SSR marker analysis revealed that 'Joannes Seyve 11369' and 'Plantet' are the true parents of 'Chambourcin' and not 'Seyve Villard 12-417' and 'Chancellor'. Furthermore, the origin of the resistance loci Ren3 and Ren9 could be traced back to the genotypes 'Seibel 4614' and 'Munson'. Since the breeder Hermann Jaeger mentioned 'Munson' as a direct descendant of Vitis aestivalis Michx. var. linsecomii (Buckley) L. H. Bailey and Vitis rupestris Scheele, one of these wild species might have been the donor of the loci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journalism's various crises have been well-documented, such as the decline in its credibility and active role in the democratic process, but constructive ideas to address them are far and few between. In an age of confused news literacy, this article presents evidence to show how face-to-face journalism might be successful in helping to re-establish its status, authority and truth-telling role in society. It reviews past and present relationships between journalism and theatre and uses them as a springboard to introduce the concept of "news on stage". It makes historical connections between early formats of live news such as the town crier, through revolutionary theatre to today's experiments in event journalism around the world. Using qualitative, empirical data from interviews and two case studies, the FT Weekend Festival and the Byline Festival, it examines whether and how such events offer ways of strengthening the relationship between news, public and performance, rebuilding communities of readers and/or activists. It configures a version of Habermas's public space/sphere as a new locus for this kind of open journalism, performed to the public. The author concludes that journalism can benefit from such events and proposes practical models for presenting "news on stage" in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore attentional foci and their temporal patterns in expert skaters in real competition situations. Individual self-confrontation interviews were held with 8 expert figure skaters while they watched their videotaped program performed in official competitions. Qualitative data analysis revealed that skaters used a substantial number of loci, which were classified by content and characteristics. Event listing was used to display the patterns of foci over time, revealing that skaters used distinct processes to prepare for, perform, and evaluate different program elements. These results highlighted the great flexibility and variability of attentional focus, according to circumstantial factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The influence of HLA class I and II loci on the susceptibility to melanoma remains an area of intense debate. This study aimed to examine whether the HLA system was related to melanoma susceptibility and prognosis in a southern Spanish population. Methods. In this study, HLA class I and class II genotyping were performed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotides (PCR-SSO) in 237 Spanish melanoma patients and 636 ethnically matched controls. Data were analyzed according to the clinical characteristics of the defined subgroups. Results. Compared to the control group, DRB1 ∗ 16:01 (4% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.001 , Pc = 0.035, OR = 3.28) and DQB1 ∗ 05:02 (4.9% vs. 2%, p = 0.001 , Pc = 0.017, OR = 2.54) were positivity associated with the susceptibility to melanoma. Both DRB1 ∗ 16:01 (5.4% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.001 , Pc = 0.035, OR = 4.46) and DQB1 ∗ 05:02 (6.5% vs. 2%, p = 0.001 , Pc = 0.017, OR = 3.44) also showed a positive correlation with Breslow thickness >1.5 mm, most notably at an early age of diagnosis (≤58 years), DRB1 ∗ 16:01 (4.2% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.001 , Pc = 0.035, OR = 3.41) and DQB1 ∗ 05:02 (5.4% vs. 2%, p = 0.002 , Pc = 0.034, OR = 2.86). Conclusion. These findings established HLA-DRB1 ∗ 16:01 and HLA-DQB1 ∗ 05:02 loci as melanoma risk factors in the southern Spanish population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of consumer-centric data collection, storage, and analysis technologies, there is growing popularity for firms to use the behavioral data of individual consumers to implement data-driven discrimination strategies. Different from traditional price discrimination, such data-driven discrimination can take more diverse forms and often discriminates particularly against firms' established customers whom firms know the best. Despite the widespread attention from both the academia and the public, little research examines how consumers react to such discrimination enabled by big data. Based on attribution theory, this paper examines how different ways of consumer attribution of data-driven discrimination influence perceived fairness and consumer trust toward the firm. Specifically, we hypothesize that controllability by consumers and locus of causality of data-driven discrimination interactively influence perceived fairness, which further affects consumer trust. We conduct two experiments to test the hypotheses. Study 1 uses a 2(controllability: high vs. low)×2(locus of causality: internal vs. external) between-subjects design. The results show a significant interaction between controllability and locus of causality on consumer trust. When consumers attribute data-driven discrimination to themselves (internal attribution), consumer trust is significantly lower in low-controllable situations than that in high-controllable situations. When consumers attribute the discrimination to the firm (external attribution), however, the impact of controllability on consumer trust is nonsignificant. Moreover, we show that perceived fairness plays a mediating role in the interaction effect of controllability and locus of causality on consumer trust. Study 2 uses a similar design to replicate the findings of Study 1 and further examines the moderating role of consumer self-concept clarity. The results show that the findings of study 1 apply only to consumers with low self-concept clarity. For consumers with high self-concept clarity, regardless of the locus of causality (internal or external), consumer trust is significantly higher in high-controllable situations than that in low-controllable situations. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and managerial implications and conclude the paper by pointing out future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compute the Brauer group of the universal moduli stack of vector bundles on (possibly marked) smooth curves of genus at least three over the complex numbers. As consequence, we obtain an explicit description of the Brauer group of the smooth locus of the associated moduli space of semistable vector bundles, when the genus is at least four. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We define a class of numerical semigroups S , which we call Castelnuovo semigroups, and study the subvariety M g , 1 S of M g , 1 consisting of marked smooth curves with Weierstrass semigroup S. We determine the number of irreducible components of these loci and determine their dimensions. Curves with these Weierstrass semigroups are always Castelnuovo curves, which provides the basic tool for our argument. This analysis provides examples of numerical semigroups for which M g , 1 S is reducible and non-equidimensional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a 3D fracture locus of high-silicon steel strip was constructed through a series of fracture tests with specimens of various shapes and corresponding finite element (FE) simulations of the fracture tests. A series of FE analyses coupled with the developed fracture locus was conducted, and the effect of the secondary roll-bending ratio (defined as L2/R2, where L2 and R2, respectively, denote the secondary work roll barrel length and the radius of the convex curvature of the work roll surface profile emulating positive roll bending) and the initial notch length on edge cracking in the strip during cold rolling was investigated. The results reveal that the 2D fracture locus that does not include the Lode angle parameter (varying between −0.81 and 0.72 during cold rolling) overestimates the edge cracking in the range of 13.1–22.2%. The effect of the initial notch length on the length of crack grown in the transverse direction of the strip during cold rolling is greatest when the ratio L2/R2 is 0.12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article follows Johnson and Liddell (2011a, 2011b, 2011c, 2012) and Liddell and Johnson (2019), which introduce the concepts of sequentiality and contrast, a segmental framework consisting of postures and trans-forms, and features describing the configuration of the fingers and of the thumb. This article further develops that theory of phonetics, focusing on the phonetic representations of the locations of the hand on the body and in space. We propose that, rather than describing the placement of the hands with respect to spatial loci, the hands locate at particular places on placement bearings. This approach allows us to describe nonindicating signs whose origins are on the head, trunk, arm, and the opposite hand, and demonstrate that indicating signs may also be described using the same approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological diversity is often attributed as adaptations to distinct ecologies. Although biologists have long hypothesized that distinct ecologies drive the evolution of body shape, these relationships are rarely tested across macroevolutionary scales in mammals. Here, I tested hypotheses that locomotor, hunting, and dietary ecologies influenced body shape evolution in carnivorans, a morphologically and ecologically diverse clade of mammals. I found that adaptive models with ecological trait regimes were poor predictors of carnivoran body shape and the underlying morphological components that contribute to body shape variation. Instead, the best-supported model exhibited clade-based evolutionary shifts, indicating that the complexity and variation of body shape landscape cannot be effectively captured by a priori ecological regimes. However, ecological adaptations of body shapes cannot be ruled out, as aquatic and terrestrial carnivorans exhibited opposite allometric patterns of body shape that may be driven by different gravitational constraints associated with these different environments. Similar to body size, body shape is a prominent feature of vertebrate morphology that may transcend one-to-one mapping relationships between morphology and ecological traits, enabling species with distinct body shapes to exploit similar resources and exhibit similar ecologies. Together, these results demonstrate that the multidimensionality of both body shape morphology and ecology makes it difficult to disentangle the complex relationship among morphological evolution, ecological diversity, and phylogeny across macroevolutionary scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the Noether–Lefschetz problem for surfaces in ${\mathbb Q}$ -factorial normal 3-folds with rational singularities. We show the existence of components of the Noether–Lefschetz locus of maximal codimension, and that there are indeed infinitely many of them. Moreover, we show that their union is dense in the natural topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, phase lead and phase lead-lag controller design, which are among the classical control methods, was implemented by root locus and Bode diagram methods for real-time DC motor position control. Since a model-based controller will be designed, the mathematical model has been obtained by calculating from experimental data with the black box system identification method. The implementation was developed using the STM32F4 development kit and the Waijung block set supported by Matlab. Controller performance has been tested by observing real-time results on the experimental setup as a result of giving reference inputs to the system. The functioning of the design process of both methods and the practicability of the methods were introduced in real-time and it was observed that the designed controllers achieved successful performance. The experimental setup and methods used in the application offer both reliable operation and economical solutions for control applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is part of the Special Issue "Parliaments in the Middle East and North Africa: A Struggle for Relevance." Tunisia's parliament has undergone a remarkable internal transformation process since 2011, from a formerly mostly irrelevant institution to an influential locus of policy-making. This successful progress notwithstanding, the parliament's transformation to a democratic assembly has not been fully concluded yet. A main challenge is that the legislature still shows a number of characteristics of an "authoritarian parliament": besides a lack of staff and financial resources, the continuous dominance of personal kinship over institutionalized power structures remains particularly problematic. While private networks of individual decision-makers were perceived as crucial for Tunisia's stability during the turbulent post-revolution years, they concomitantly contain the risk for a resurrection of former authoritarian structures. The article thus traces the Tunisian parliament's major transformation steps from a former irrelevant legislature to a consolidated, influential assembly, and points out the still existing challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to study the evolution of definitions of internet of things (IoT) through time, critically assess the knowledge these definitions contain and facilitate sensemaking by providing those unfamiliar with IoT with a theoretical definition and an extended framework. Design/methodology/approach: 164 articles published between 2005 and 2019 are collected using snowball sampling. Further, 100 unique definitions are identified in the sample. Definitions are examined using content analysis and applying a theoretical framework of five knowledge dimensions. Findings: In declarative/relational dimensions of knowledge, increasing levels of agreement are observed in the sample. Sources of tautological reasoning are identified. In conditional and causal dimensions, definitions of IoT remain underdeveloped. In the former, potential limitations of IoT related to resource scarcity, privacy and security are overlooked. In the latter, three main loci of agreement are identified. Research limitations/implications: This study does not cover all published definitions of IoT. Some narratives may be omitted by our selection criteria and process. Practical implications: This study supports sensemaking of IoT. Main loci of agreement in definitions of IoT are identified. Avenues for further clarification and consensus are explored. A new framework that can facilitate further investigation and agreement is introduced. Originality/value: This is, to the authors' knowledge, the first study that examines the historical evolution of definitions of IoT vis-à-vis its technological features. This study introduces an updated framework to critically assess and compare definitions, identify ambiguities and resolve conflicts among different interpretations. The framework can be used to compare past and future definitions and help actors unfamiliar with IoT to make sense of it in a way to reduce adoption costs. It can also support researchers in studying early discussions of IoT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root system architecture, as a complex trait, has gained attention due to climate change and abiotic stress pressure on crops. The incorporation of root traits in breeding objectives may enable new advances in climate-resilient crops. Here, the genetics of the seedling root system architecture in the Synthetic W7984 x Opata M85 Doubled Haploid mapping population was investigated. Three traits at the seedling stage and mature stage root and shoot biomass traits were mapped for quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification. A total of five different loci on chromosomes 1B, 5A, and 7D with major effects were identified for total root length, primary root length, and seminal root growth angle. Four regions on chromosomes 2A, 5A, and 7D had colocating loci for seedling and mature stage root traits. Chromosome 5A, with a locus affecting most of the seedling root traits, is promising. The correlations between seedling and mature root traits, and newly identified QTL for seedling root traits, maybe promising to unravel the genetic structure of root traits and for the marker-assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We formulate the generic τ-function of the homogeneous Painlevé II equation as a Fredholm determinant of an integrable (Its–Izergin–Korepin–Slavnov) operator. The τ-function depends on the isomonodromic time t and two Stokes parameters. The vanishing locus of the τ-function, called the Malgrange divisor is then determined by the zeros of the Fredholm determinant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moduli space Md, of complex rational maps of degree d ⩾ 2, is a connected complex orbifold which carries a natural real structure, coming from usual complex conjugation. Its real points are the classes of rational maps admitting antiholomorphic automorphisms. The locus of the real points decomposes as a disjoint union of the loci , consisting of the real rational maps, and , consisting of the pseudo-real ones. We obtain that, both and , are connected and that is disconnected. We also observe that the group of holomorphic automorphisms of a pseudo-real rational map is either trivial or a cyclic group. For every n ⩾ 1, we construct pseudo-real rational maps whose group of holomorphic automorphisms is cyclic of order n. As the field of moduli of a pseudo-real rational map is contained in , these maps provide examples of rational maps which are not definable over their field of moduli. It seems that these are the only explicit examples in the literature (Silverman) of rational maps which cannot be defined over their field of moduli. We provide explicit examples of real rational maps which cannot be defined over their field of moduli. Finally, we also observe that every real rational map, which admits a model over the algebraic numbers, can be defined over the real algebraic numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic susceptibility to late maturity alpha-amylase (LMA) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) results in increased alpha-amylase activity in mature grain when cool conditions occur during late grain maturation. Farmers are forced to sell wheat grain with elevated alpha-amylase at a discount because it has an increased risk of poor end-product quality. This problem can result from either LMA or preharvest sprouting, grain germination on the mother plant when rain occurs before harvest. Whereas preharvest sprouting is a well-understood problem, little is known about the risk LMA poses to North American wheat crops. To examine this, LMA susceptibility was characterized in a panel of 251 North American hard spring wheat lines, representing ten geographical areas. It appears that there is substantial LMA susceptibility in North American wheat since only 27% of the lines showed reproducible LMA resistance following cold-induction experiments. A preliminary genome-wide association study detected six significant marker-trait associations. LMA in North American wheat may result from genetic mechanisms similar to those previously observed in Australian and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) germplasm since two of the detected QTLs, QLMA.wsu.7B and QLMA.wsu.6B, co-localized with previously reported loci. The Reduced height (Rht) loci also influenced LMA. Elevated alpha-amylase levels were significantly associated with the presence of both wild-type and tall height, rht-B1a and rht-D1a, loci in both cold-treated and untreated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given V a polarizable variation of Z -Hodge structures on a smooth connected complex quasi-projective variety S, the Hodge locus for V ⊗ is the set of closed points s of S where the fiber V s has more Hodge tensors than the very general one. A classical result of Cattani, Deligne and Kaplan states that the Hodge locus for V ⊗ is a countable union of closed irreducible algebraic subvarieties of S, called the special subvarieties of S for V . Under the assumption that the adjoint group of the generic Mumford–Tate group of V is simple we prove that the union of the special subvarieties for V whose image under the period map is not a point is either a closed algebraic subvariety of S or is Zariski-dense in S. This implies for instance the following typical intersection statement: given a Hodge-generic closed irreducible algebraic subvariety S of the moduli space A g of principally polarized Abelian varieties of dimension g, the union of the positive dimensional irreducible components of the intersection of S with the strict special subvarieties of A g is either a closed algebraic subvariety of S or is Zariski-dense in S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Forest Research is the property of Forest Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)