Application of genomic and quantitative genetic tools to identify candidate resistance genes for brown rot resistance in peach.

The availability of a complete peach genome assembly and three different peach genome sequences created by our group provide new opportunities for application of genomic data and can improve the power of the classical Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) approaches to identify candidate genes for peach disease resistance. Brown rot caused by Monilinia spp., is the most important fungal disease of stone fruits worldwide. Improved levels of peach fruit rot resistance have been identified in some cultivars and advanced selections developed in the UC Davis and USDA breeding programs. Whole genome sequencing of the Pop-DF parents lead to discovery of high-quality SNP markers for QTL genome scanning in this experimental population. Pop-DF created by crossing a brown rot moderately resistant cultivar 'Dr. Davis' and a brown rot resistant introgression line, 'F8,1-42', derived from an initial almond × peach interspecific hybrid, was evaluated for brown rot resistance in fruit of harvest maturity over three seasons. Using the SNP linkage map of Pop-DF and phenotypic data collected with inoculated fruit, a genome scan for QTL identified several SNP markers associated with brown rot resistance. Two of these QTLs were placed on linkage group 1, covering a large (physical) region on chromosome 1. The genome scan for QTL and SNP effects predicted several candidate genes associated with disease resistance responses in other host-pathogen systems. Two potential candidate genes, ppa011763m and ppa026453m, may be the genes primarily responsible for M. fructicola recognition in peach, activating both PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) responses. Our results provide a foundation for further genetic dissection, marker assisted breeding for brown rot resistance, and development of peach cultivars resistant to brown rot

Absorbing systematic effects to obtain a better background model in a search for new physics

This paper presents a novel approach to estimate the Standard Model backgrounds based on modifying Monte Carlo predictions within their systematic uncertainties. The improved background model is obtained by altering the original predictions with successively more complex correction functions in signal-free control selections. Statistical tests indicate when sufficient compatibility with data is reached. In this way, systematic effects are absorbed into the new background model. The same correction is then applied on the Monte Carlo prediction in the signal region. Comparing this method to other background estimation techniques shows improvements with respect to statistical and systematical uncertainties. The proposed method can also be applied in other fields beyond high energy physics

Diverse Long-Term Variability of Five Candidate High-Mass X-ray Binaries from Swift Burst Alert Telescope Observations

We present an investigation of long-term modulation in the X-ray light curves of five little-studied candidate high-mass X-ray binaries using the Swift Burst Alert Telescope. IGR J14488-5942 and AX J1700.2-4220 show strong modulation at periods of 49.6 and 44 days, respectively, which are interpreted as orbital periods of Be star systems. For IGR J14488-5942, observations with Swift X-ray Telescope show a hint of pulsations at 33.4 s. For AX J1700.2-4220, 54 s pulsations were previously found with XMM. Swift J1816.7-1613 exhibits complicated behavior. The strongest peak in the power spectrum is at a period near 150 days, but this conflicts with a determination of a period of 118.5 days by La Parola et al. (2014). AX J1820.5-1434 has been proposed to exhibit modulation near 54 days, but the extended BAT observations suggest modulation at slightly longer than double this at approximately 111 days. There appears to be a long-term change in the shape of the modulation near 111 days, which may explain the apparent discrepancy. The X-ray pulsar XTE J1906+090, which was previously proposed to be a Be star system with an orbital period of ~30 days from pulse timing, shows peaks in the power spectrum at 81 and 173 days. The origins of these periods are unclear, although they might be the orbital period and a superorbital period respectively. For all five sources, the long-term variability, together with the combination of orbital and proposed pulse periods, suggests that the sources contain Be star mass donors.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. 15 pages, 27 figures. (v2 corrects citation

Speech Function and Mood in the 2014 Indonesian Presidential Candidatesdebate

This study deals with Speech Function and Mood used in the 2014 IndonesianPresidential Candidates Debate. This study was conducted by using descriptivequalitative method. The purpose of this study is to find out the types of SpeechFunction and Mood used in the debate based on Halliday\u27s theory. The data ofthis study were the utterances of both President Candidates, namely Jokowi Dodoand PrabowoSubianto. The findings show that both President candidates used alltypes of Speech Function in the debate, which Statement are 464 utterances(82.71%), Question are 51 utterances (9.09%), Command are 34 utterances(6.06%) and Offer are 12 utterances (2.14%). It is also found that they usecongruent and metaphorical realization of Mood in debating. The use ofCongruent Mood of declarative are 469 utterances (83.6%), Interrogative are 49utterances (8.73%), and Imperative are 33 utterances (5.89%). Meanwhile themetaphorical realization of Declarative are 7 utterances (1.24%), Interrogative are2 utterances (0.36%) and Imperative only 1 utterance (0.18%). Statement as themost dominant type of speech function in this debate shows thatJokowi andPrabowoare mostly giving information in order to deliver their future plans andideas in the form of proposition, promise and persuasion, to strengthen thearguments and to convey messages logically in a limited time, so that the hearer/people of Indonesia interested in choosing him as the next President. And the useof congruent or metaphorical realization in this debate implies that both Jokowiand Prabowo are able to give and to response arguments logically in differentways

Exploring genetic factors involved in huntington disease age of onset. E2F2 as a new potential modifier gene

Age of onset (AO) of Huntington disease (HD) is mainly determined by the length of the CAG repeat expansion (CAGexp) in exon 1 of the HTT gene. Additional genetic variation has been suggested to contribute to AO, although the mechanism by which it could affect AO is presently unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the contribution of candidate genetic factors to HD AO in order to gain insight into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying this disorder. For that purpose, two AO definitions were used: the earliest age with unequivocal signs of HD (earliest AO or eAO), and the first motor symptoms age (motor AO or mAO). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed between genetic variation within 20 candidate genes and eAO or mAO, using DNA and clinical information of 253 HD patients from REGISTRY project. Gene expression analyses were carried out by RT-qPCR with an independent sample of 35 HD patients from Basque Country Hospitals. We found suggestive association signals between HD eAO and/or mAO and genetic variation within the E2F2, ATF7IP, GRIN2A, GRIN2B, LINC01559, HIP1 and GRIK2 genes. Among them, the most significant was the association between eAO and rs2742976, mapping to the promoter region of E2F2 transcription factor. Furthermore, rs2742976 T allele patient carriers exhibited significantly lower lymphocyte E2F2 gene expression, suggesting a possible implication of E2F2-dependent transcriptional activity in HD pathogenesis. Thus, E2F2 emerges as a new potential HD AO modifier factor

BASE REVENUE PROTECTION AND REVENUE COUNTERCYCLICAL PROGRAMS FOR SPRING WHEAT IN NORTH DAKOTA

The National Corn Growers Association Public Policy Team’s Base Revenue Projection Program (BRP) and the Revenue Countercyclical Program (RCCP) were analyzed. The analysis was done for spring wheat using the BRP-RCCP calculator, as developed by the National Corn Growers Association. Three representative counties (Hettinger, Ward and Cavalier) were chosen in North Dakota. Historic and projected data were used to analyze 2002 to 2010 crop years. A comparison of the BRP-RCCP programs to the current farm program was done. From 2002 to 2005, Ward County would have received nearly identical payments under the BRP-RCCP program and the current farm program. The Hettinger County farm would have received considerably more under the BRP-RCCP program - $76.87 per acre, compared with$38.99 under the existing farm program. This amounts to $9.22 per acre per year. For the Cavalier County farm, the advantage to the BRP-RCCP program was only$7.56 per acre for the four-year period.farm bill, wheat, countercyclical payments, revenue, Agricultural Finance, Crop Production/Industries,