739 research outputs found
Using ezRAD to reconstruct the complete mitochondrial genome of Porites fontanesii (Cnidaria: Scleractinia)
Corals in the genus Porites are among the major framework builders of reef structures worldwide, yet the genus has been challenging to study due to a lack of informative molecular markers. Here, we used ezRAD sequencing to reconstruct the complete mitochondrial genome of Porites fontanesii (GenBank accession number MG754069), a widespread coral species endemic to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The gene arrangement of P. fontanesii did not differ from other Scleractinia and consisted of 18,658 bp, organized in 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 2 tRNA genes. This mitochondrial genome contributes essential data to work towards a better understanding of evolutionary relationships within Porites
Crossover from Isotropic to Directed Percolation
Percolation clusters are probably the simplest example for scale--invariant
structures which either are governed by isotropic scaling--laws
(``self--similarity'') or --- as in the case of directed percolation --- may
display anisotropic scaling behavior (``self--affinity''). Taking advantage of
the fact that both isotropic and directed bond percolation (with one preferred
direction) may be mapped onto corresponding variants of (Reggeon) field theory,
we discuss the crossover between self--similar and self--affine scaling. This
has been a long--standing and yet unsolved problem because it is accompanied by
different upper critical dimensions: for isotropic, and
for directed percolation, respectively. Using a generalized
subtraction scheme we show that this crossover may nevertheless be treated
consistently within the framework of renormalization group theory. We identify
the corresponding crossover exponent, and calculate effective exponents for
different length scales and the pair correlation function to one--loop order.
Thus we are able to predict at which characteristic anisotropy scale the
crossover should occur. The results are subject to direct tests by both
computer simulations and experiment. We emphasize the broad range of
applicability of the proposed method.Comment: 19 pages, written in RevTeX, 12 figures available upon request (from
[email protected] or [email protected]), EF/UCT--94/2, to be
published in Phys. Rev. E (May 1994
Phylogenomics of Porites from the Arabian Peninsula
The advent of high throughput sequencing technologies provides an opportunity to resolve phylogenetic relationships among closely related species. By incorporating hundreds to thousands of unlinked loci and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), phylogenomic analyses have a far greater potential to resolve species boundaries than approaches that rely on only a few markers. Scleractinian taxa have proved challenging to identify using traditional morphological approaches and many groups lack an adequate set of molecular markers to investigate their phylogenies. Here, we examine the potential of Restriction-site Associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to investigate phylogenetic relationships and species limits within the scleractinian coral genus Porites. A total of 126 colonies were collected from 16 localities in the seas surrounding the Arabian Peninsula and ascribed to 12 nominal and two unknown species based on their morphology. Reference mapping was used to retrieve and compare nearly complete mitochondrial genomes, ribosomal DNA, and histone loci. De novo assembly and reference mapping to the P. lobata coral transcriptome were compared and used to obtain thousands of genome-wide loci and SNPs. A suite of species discovery methods (phylogenetic, ordination, and clustering analyses) and species delimitation approaches (coalescent-based, species tree, and Bayesian Factor delimitation) suggested the presence of eight molecular lineages, one of which included six morphospecies. Our phylogenomic approach provided a fully supported phylogeny of Porites from the Arabian Peninsula, suggesting the power of RADseq data to solve the species delineation problem in this speciose coral genus
Low-lying excitations in Ni 72
Low-lying excited states in Ni72 have been investigated in an in-flight fission experiment at the RIBF facility of the RIKEN Nishina Center. The combination of the state-of-the-art BigRIPS and EURICA setups has allowed for a very accurate study of the ÎČ decay from Co72 to Ni72, and has provided first experimental information on the decay sequence Fe72âCo72âNi72 and on the delayed neutron-emission branch Co73âNi72. Accordingly, we report nearly 60 previously unobserved Îł transitions which deexcite 21 new levels in Ni72. Evidence for the location of the so-sought-after (42+),(62+), and (81+) seniority states is provided. As well, the existence of a low-spin ÎČ-decaying isomer in odd-odd neutron-rich Co isotopes is confirmed for mass A=72. The new experimental information is compared to simple shell-model calculations including only neutron excitations across the fpg shells. It is shown that, in general, the calculations reproduce well the observed states. © 2016 American Physical Society
Discovery and Cross-Section Measurement of Neutron-Rich Isotopes in the Element Range from Neodymium to Platinum at the FRS
With a new detector setup and the high-resolution performance of the fragment
separator FRS at GSI we discovered 57 new isotopes in the atomic number range
of 60: \nuc{159-161}{Nb}, \nuc{160-163}{Pm}, \nuc{163-166}Sm,
\nuc{167-168}{Eu}, \nuc{167-171}{Gd}, \nuc{169-171}{Tb}, \nuc{171-174}{Dy},
\nuc{173-176}{Ho}, \nuc{176-178}{Er}, \nuc{178-181}{Tm}, \nuc{183-185}{Yb},
\nuc{187-188}{Lu}, \nuc{191}{Hf}, \nuc{193-194}{Ta}, \nuc{196-197}{W},
\nuc{199-200}{Re}, \nuc{201-203}{Os}, \nuc{204-205}{Ir} and \nuc{206-209}{Pt}.
The new isotopes have been unambiguously identified in reactions with a
U beam impinging on a Be target at 1 GeV/u. The isotopic production
cross-section for the new isotopes have been measured and compared with
predictions of different model calculations. In general, the ABRABLA and COFRA
models agree better than a factor of two with the new data, whereas the
semiempirical EPAX model deviates much more. Projectile fragmentation is the
dominant reaction creating the new isotopes, whereas fission contributes
significantly only up to about the element holmium.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
Charged particle decay of hot and rotating Mo nuclei in fusion-evaporation reactions
A study of fusion-evaporation and (partly) fusion-fission channels for the
Mo compound nucleus, produced at different excitation energies in the
reaction Ti + Ca at 300, 450 and 600 MeV beam energies, is
presented. Fusion-evaporation and fusion-fission cross sections have been
extracted and compared with the existing systematics. Experimental data
concerning light charged particles have been compared with the prediction of
the statistical model in its implementation in the Gemini++ code, well suited
even for high spin systems, in order to tune the main model parameters in a
mass region not abundantly covered by exclusive experimental data.
Multiplicities for light charged particles emitted in fusion evaporation events
are also presented. Some discrepancies with respect to the prediction of the
statistical model have been found for forward emitted -particles; they
may be due both to pre-equilibrium emission and to reaction channels (such as
Deep Inelastic Collisions, QuasiFission/QuasiFusion) different from the
compound nucleus formation.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure
A hybrid-capture approach to reconstruct the phylogeny of Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia)
A well-supported evolutionary tree representing most major lineages of scleractinian corals is in sight with the development and application of phylogenomic approaches. Specifically, hybrid-capture techniques are shedding light on the evolution and systematics of corals. Here, we reconstructed a broad phylogeny of Scleractinia to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses inferred from a few molecular markers, in particular, the relationships among major scleractinian families and genera, and to identify clades that require further research. We analysed 449 nuclear loci from 422 corals, comprising 266 species spanning 26 families, combining data across whole genomes, transcriptomes, hybrid capture and low-coverage sequencing to reconstruct the largest phylogenomic tree of scleractinians to date. Due to the large number of loci and data completeness (less than 38% missing data), node supports were high across shallow and deep nodes with incongruences observed in only a few shallow nodes. The âRobustâ and âComplexâ clades were recovered unequivocally, and our analyses confirmed that Micrabaciidae Vaughan, 1905 is sister to the âRobustâ clade, transforming our understanding of the âBasalâ clade. Several families remain polyphyletic in our phylogeny, including Deltocyathiidae Kitahara, Cairns, Stolarski & Miller, 2012, Caryophylliidae Dana, 1846, and Coscinaraeidae Benzoni, Arrigoni, Stefani & Stolarski, 2012, and we hereby formally proposed the family name Pachyseridae Benzoni & Hoeksema to accommodate Pachyseris Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849, which is phylogenetically distinct from Agariciidae Gray, 1847. Results also revealed species misidentifications and inconsistencies within morphologically complex clades, such as Acropora Oken, 1815 and Platygyra Ehrenberg, 1834, underscoring the need for reference skeletal material and topotypes, as well as the importance of detailed taxonomic work. The approach and findings here provide much promise for further stabilising the topology of the scleractinian tree of life and advancing our understanding of coral evolution
Core-coupled states and split proton-neutron quasi-particle multiplets in 122-126Ag
Neutron-rich silver isotopes were populated in the fragmentation of a 136Xe
beam and the relativistic fission of 238U. The fragments were mass analyzed
with the GSI Fragment separator and subsequently implanted into a passive
stopper. Isomeric transitions were detected by 105 HPGe detectors. Eight
isomeric states were observed in 122-126Ag nuclei. The level schemes of
122,123,125Ag were revised and extended with isomeric transitions being
observed for the first time. The excited states in the odd-mass silver isotopes
are interpreted as core-coupled states. The isomeric states in the even-mass
silver isotopes are discussed in the framework of the proton-neutron split
multiplets. The results of shell-model calculations, performed for the most
neutron-rich silver nuclei are compared to the experimental data
The deepest record of the octocoral Acanthogorgia from the Red Sea
Octocorals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) have a global distribution and form benthic assemblages along the depth gradient, from shallow to deep waters. They often occur below SCUBA diving limits, where they can become dominant habitat builders and aggregate different taxa. During a cruise in February 2023, one octocoral specimen was collected at 1453Â m depth at Kebrit Deep, in the northern Saudi Arabian Red Sea axis, an area with extremely high temperature and salinity profiles at depth. Morphological analysis coupled with DNA barcoding using two mitochondrial markers (COI and mtMuts), revealed that the coral belongs to Acanthogorgia, a genus of azooxanthellate octocorals known to occur from 3 to 2300Â m depths in cold, temperate and tropical waters. In the Red Sea, the genus was previously only known from shallower waters. Hence, we report the deepest record of the genus Acanthogorgia from the warm and saline Red Sea basin. This finding provides novel insights on deep-water octocoral diversity in the Red Sea, a still scantily explored area of the world, while emphasizing the need for further explorations at depth
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