Application of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLPs) for detection of sex–specific markers in dioecious Uapaca kirkiana Muell. Årg.

Uapaca kirkiana Muell. Årg is a dioecious fruit tree species for priority domestication in Southern Africa. It reaches reproductive maturity in eight to ten years with male plants making up 50% of breeding populations. Early identification of sex of seedlings is a prerequisite for selection and tree improvement. The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was used to amplify DNAsegments of U. kirkiana male and female plants to identify sex-specific markers. A total of 84 selective primer combinations were screened using bulked segregant analysis (BSA) for males and females.More than 110 polymorphic markers were obtained but each of the four primer pairs (E-ACT/M-CTG, EACA/ M-CAA, E41+A/M-CTA and E-AGG/M-CTC) showed one band that was linked to sex. When the fourprimer pairs were tested in ten individuals from different populations only one primer pair (E-ACT/MCTG) amplified a 320 bp band in female plants only. It is possible that this marker is linked to a sexdetermininglocus. The results suggest that the gene that determines sex of U. kirkiana is autosomal in nature and this marker may be important during fruit domestication and tree improvement programmes. The marker has been sequenced and sequence characterised amplified region (SCAR) marker will be developed and used for precise and rapid identification of female plants

When Is a Principal Charged With an Agent’s Knowledge?

Question: Detecting species presence in vegetation and making visual assessment of abundances involve a certain amount of skill, and therefore subjectivity. We evaluated the magnitude of the error in data, and its consequences for evaluating temporal trends. Location: Swedish forest vegetation. Methods: Vegetation data were collected independently by two observers in 342 permanent 100-m2 plots in mature boreal forests. Each plot was visited by one observer from a group of 36 and one of two quality assessment observers. The cover class of 29 taxa was recorded, and presence/absence for an additional 50. Results: Overall, one third of each occurrence was missed by one of the two observers, but with large differences among species. There were more missed occurrences at low abundances. Species occurring at low abundance when present tended to be frequently overlooked. Variance component analyses indicated that cover data on 5 of 17 species had a significant observer bias. Observer-explained variance was < 10% in 15 of 17 species. Conclusion: The substantial number of missed occurrences suggests poor power in detecting changes based on presence/absence data. The magnitude of observer bias in cover estimates was relatively small, compared with random error, and therefore potentially analytically tractable. Data in this monitoring system could be improved by a more structured working model during field work.Original publication: Milberg, P., Bergstedt, J., Fridman, J., Odell, G & Westerberg, L., Systematic and random variation in vegetation monitoring data, 2008, Journal of Vegetation Science, (19), 633-644. http://dx.doi.org/10.3170/2008-8-18423. Copyright: Opulus Press, http://www.opuluspress.se/index.ph

Bidirectional Transepithelial Water Transport: Measurement and Governing Mechanisms

In the search for the mechanisms whereby water is transported across biological membranes, we hypothesized that in the airways, the hydration of the periciliary fluid layer is regulated by luminal-to-basolateral water transport coupled to active transepithelial sodium transport. The luminal-to-basolateral (J W L3B ) and the basolateral-to-luminal (J W B3L ) transepithelial water fluxes across ovine tracheal epithelia were measured simultaneously. The J W L3B (6.1 #l/min/cm 2 ) was larger than J W B3L (4.5 #l/min/cm 2 , p # 0.05, n # 30). The corresponding water diffusional permeabilities were P d L3B # 1.0 # 10 #4 cm/s and P d B3L # 7.5 # 10 #5 cm/s. The activation energy (E a )ofJ W L3B (11.6 kcal/mol) was larger than the E a of J W B3L (6.5 kcal/mol, p # 0.05, n # 5). Acetylstrophanthidin (100 #M basolateral) reduced J W L3B from 6.1 to 4.4 #l/min/cm 2 (p # 0.05, n # 5) and abolished the PD. Amiloride (10 #M luminal) reduced J W L3B from 5.7 to 3.7 #l/min/..

Exploring the viability of phase-based models in (de)radicalization

This chapter aims to explore the extent to which phase-based models can be used to accurately describe the process of deradicalization. It examines how this provides clues about which psychological processes could be targeted through specific interventions in different phases of the deradicalization process. The chapter describes some of the existing phase models that focus on movement to terrorism and discuss the main points of criticism levied against the type of model. It presents an overarching phase model of (de)radicalization which covers the most important aspects of the abovementioned existing theories, and aims to overcome some of the limitations. Triggers are concrete external events that can play a decisive role in both radicalization and deradicalization. The use of phase-based models to conceptualize processes of deradicalization and the use of such models as a starting point to design interventions imply a consideration of the different psychological factors and potential triggers that are at work in each phase

New avenues for residual stress analysis in ultrathin atomic layer deposited free-standing membranes through release of micro-cantilevers

The fabrication of thinnest, yet undeformed membrane structures with nanometer resolution is a prerequisite for a variety of Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). However, functionally relevant thin films are susceptible to growth-generated stress. To tune the performance and reach large aspect ratios, knowledge of the intrinsic material properties is indispensable. Here, we present a new method for stress evaluation through releasing defined micro-cantilever segments by focused ion beam (FIB) milling from a predefined free-standing membrane structure. Thereby, the cantilever segment is allowed to equilibrate to a stress-released state through measurable strain in the form of a resulting radius of curvature. This radius can be back-calculated to the residual stress state. The method was tested on a 20 nm and 50 nm thick tunnel-like ALD Image 1 membrane structure, revealing a significant amount of residual stress with 866 MPa and 6104 MPa, respectively. Complementary finite element analysis to estimate the stress distribution in the structure showed a 97% and 90% agreement in out-of-plane deflection for the 20 nm and 50 nm membranes, respectively. This work reveals the possibilities of releasing entire membrane segments from thin film membranes with a significant amount of residual stress and to use the resulting bending behavior for evaluating stress and strain by measuring their deformation