The Low Energy Behavior of some Models with Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking

We study supersymmetric SU(5) chiral gauge theories with 2 fields in the 10 representation, $2+N_F$ fields in the $\bar{5}$ representation and $N_F$ fields in the 5 representation, for $N_F=0,1,2$. With a suitable superpotential, supersymmetry is shown to be broken dynamically for each of these values of $N_F$. We analyze the calculable limit for the model with $N_F=0$ in detail, and determine the low energy effective sigma model in this case. For $N_F=1$ we find the quantum moduli space, and for $N_F=2$ we construct the s--confining potential.Comment: 16 page

Higgs Mass Bounds Separate Models of Electroweak Symmetry Breaking

Vacuum stability implies a lower limit on the mass of the higgs boson in the Standard Model (SM). In contrast, an upper limit on the lightest higgs mass can be calculated in supersymmetric (susy) models. The main uncertainty in each limit is the value of the top mass, which may now be fixed by the recent CDF result. We study the possibility that these bounds do not overlap, and find that (i) a mass gap emerges at $m_t\sim 160$ GeV between the SM and the Minimal Susy Standard Model (MSSM); and between the SM and the Minimal plus Singlet Susy Model [(M+1)SSM] if the independent scalar self--coupling of the latter is perturbatively small or if the $\tan\beta$ parameter is large; this gap widens with increasing $m_t$; (ii) there is no overlap between the SM and the MSSM bounds at even smaller values of $m_t$ for the $\tan\beta$ value ($\sim 1$--2) preferred in Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theories. Thus, if the new top mass measurement remains valid, a measurement of the first higgs mass will serve to exclude either the SM or MSSM/(M+1)SSM higgs sectors. In addition, we discuss the upper bound on the lightest higgs mass in susy models with an extended higgs sector, and in models with a strongly interacting higgs sector. Finally, we comment on the discovery potential for the lightest higgses in these models.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, VAND-TH-94-1

Identification of QTLs associated with oil content and mapping FAD2 genes and their relative contribution to oil quality in peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.)

Background Peanut is one of the major source for human consumption worldwide and its seed contain approximately 50% oil. Improvement of oil content and quality traits (high oleic and low linoleic acid) in peanut could be accelerated by exploiting linked markers through molecular breeding. The objective of this study was to identify QTLs associated with oil content, and estimate relative contribution of FAD2 genes (ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B) to oil quality traits in two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. Results Improved genetic linkage maps were developed for S-population (SunOleic 97R × NC94022) with 206 (1780.6 cM) and T-population (Tifrunner × GT-C20) with 378 (2487.4 cM) marker loci. A total of 6 and 9 QTLs controlling oil content were identified in the S- and T-population, respectively. The contribution of each QTL towards oil content variation ranged from 3.07 to 10.23% in the S-population and from 3.93 to 14.07% in the T-population. The mapping positions for ahFAD2A (A sub-genome) and ahFAD2B (B sub-genome) genes were assigned on a09 and b09 linkage groups. The ahFAD2B gene (26.54%, 25.59% and 41.02% PVE) had higher phenotypic effect on oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), and oleic/linoleic acid ratio (O/L ratio) than ahFAD2A gene (8.08%, 6.86% and 3.78% PVE). The FAD2 genes had no effect on oil content. This study identified a total of 78 main-effect QTLs (M-QTLs) with up to 42.33% phenotypic variation (PVE) and 10 epistatic QTLs (E-QTLs) up to 3.31% PVE for oil content and quality traits. Conclusions A total of 78 main-effect QTLs (M-QTLs) and 10 E-QTLs have been detected for oil content and oil quality traits. One major QTL (more than 10% PVE) was identified in both the populations for oil content with source alleles from NC94022 and GT-C20 parental genotypes. FAD2 genes showed high effect for oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), and O/L ratio while no effect on total oil content. The information on phenotypic effect of FAD2 genes for oleic acid, linoleic acid and O/L ratio, and oil content will be applied in breeding selection

An Ontological Approach to Inform HMI Designs for Minimizing Driver Distractions with ADAS

ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) are in-vehicle systems designed to enhance driving safety and efficiency as well as comfort for drivers in the driving process. Recent studies have noticed that when Human Machine Interface (HMI) is not designed properly, an ADAS can cause distraction which would affect its usage and even lead to safety issues. Current understanding of these issues is limited to the context-dependent nature of such systems. This paper reports the development of a holistic conceptualisation of how drivers interact with ADAS and how such interaction could lead to potential distraction. This is done taking an ontological approach to contextualise the potential distraction, driving tasks and user interactions centred on the use of ADAS. Example scenarios are also given to demonstrate how the developed ontology can be used to deduce rules for identifying distraction from ADAS and informing future designs

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Registration of six disease resistant, high protein, induced allotetraploids derived from Arachis duranensis and A. ipaënsis, the genome progenitors of peanut.

The allotetraploid legume peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) has low genetic diversity due to the single origin and ploidy barrier with its wild relatives, which are mostly diploid. This lack of genetic diversity hinders breeding and genetic gains. Wild peanut relatives harbor known resistances to pests and diseases and genetic variation that can contribute to adaptation to diverse environments and a changing climate. The ploidy barrier between the wild relatives and the cultigen can be surpassed by the production of induced allotetraploids using parents with genomes that are compatible to those of peanut. Here, we crossed seven accessions of six Arachis species. All combinations carried at least one of the peanut progenitors, A. ipaënsis and A. duranensis, crossed with a species of complementary genome. The original hybrids were treated with colchicine for recovery of fertility, observed by pollen viability and seed production. Six new allotetraploids were produced; they were named WPL-BatDur1 (Reg. no. GP-248, PI 707934), WPL-BatDur2 (Reg. no. GP-249, PI 707936), WPL-MagDur1 (Reg. no. GP-253, PI 707942), WPL-IpaCor1 (Reg. no. GP-251, PI 707938), WPL-IpaDur1 (Reg. no. GP-250, PI 707937), and WPL-IpaVillo1 (Reg. no. GP-252, PI 707941), released by the University of Georgia. Cytogenetic analyses confirmed the tetraploid plants had 20 A-type and 20 B- or K-type chromosomes. All these allotetraploids have surprisingly high protein content. They also show moderate to strong resistance to the main peanut fungal diseases (late and early leaf spot and rust) and Southern stem rot, are compatible with cultivated peanut, and are being used in breeding programs in the United States, Senegal, and Brazil for the development of resilient peanut cultivars.Na publicação: A. C. G. Araujo

Genetic Mapping of QTLs Controlling Fatty Acids Provided Insights into the Genetic Control of Fatty Acid Synthesis Pathway in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Peanut, a high-oil crop with about 50% oil content, is either crushed for oil or used as edible products. Fatty acid composition determines the oil quality which has high relevance to consumer health, flavor, and shelf life of commercial products. In addition to the major fatty acids, oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2) accounting for about 80% of peanut oil, the six other fatty acids namely palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), arachidic acid (C20:0), gadoleic acid (C20:1), behenic acid (C22:0), and lignoceric acid (C24:0) are accounted for the rest 20%. To determine the genetic basis and to improve further understanding on effect of FAD2 genes on these fatty acids, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations namely S-population (high oleic line ‘SunOleic 97R’ × low oleic line ‘NC94022’) and T-population (normal oleic line ‘Tifrunner’ × low oleic line ‘GT-C20’) were developed. Genetic maps with 206 and 378 marker loci for the S- and the T-population, respectively were used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. As a result, a total of 164 main-effect (M-QTLs) and 27 epistatic (E-QTLs) QTLs associated with the minor fatty acids were identified with 0.16% to 40.56% phenotypic variation explained (PVE). Thirty four major QTLs (>10% of PVE) mapped on five linkage groups and 28 clusters containing more than three QTLs were also identified. These results suggest that the major QTLs with large additive effects would play an important role in controlling composition of these minor fatty acids in addition to the oleic and linoleic acids in peanut oil. The interrelationship among these fatty acids should be considered while breeding for improved peanut genotypes with good oil quality and desired fatty acid composition

Innate recognition of water bodies in echolocating bats

In the course of their lives, most animals must find different specific habitat and microhabitat types for survival and reproduction. Yet, in vertebrates, little is known about the sensory cues that mediate habitat recognition. In free flying bats the echolocation of insect-sized point targets is well understood, whereas how they recognize and classify spatially extended echo targets is currently unknown. In this study, we show how echolocating bats recognize ponds or other water bodies that are crucial for foraging, drinking and orientation. With wild bats of 15 different species (seven genera from three phylogenetically distant, large bat families), we found that bats perceived any extended, echo-acoustically smooth surface to be water, even in the presence of conflicting information from other sensory modalities. In addition, naive juvenile bats that had never before encountered a water body showed spontaneous drinking responses from smooth plates. This provides the first evidence for innate recognition of a habitat cue in a mammal

Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Preferentially Targets Antigen Presenting Cells In Vitro, Ex Vivo and In Vivo

Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a promising vaccine vector with an excellent safety profile. However, despite extensive pre-clinical and clinical testing, surprisingly little is known about the cellular tropism of MVA, especially in relevant animal species. Here, we performed in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments with recombinant MVA expressing green fluorescent protein (rMVA-GFP). In both human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and mouse lung explants, rMVA-GFP predominantly infected antigen presenting cells. Subsequent in vivo experiments performed in mice, ferrets and non-human primates indicated that preferential targeting of dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages was observed after respiratory administration, although subtle differences were observed between the respective animal species. Following intramuscular injection, rMVA-GFP was detected in interdigitating cells between myocytes, but also in myocytes themselves. These data are important in advancing our understanding of the basis for the immunogenicity of MVA-based vaccines and aid rational vaccine design and delivery strategies