Comparison of genetic diversity and growth traits among Fangzheng silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) gynogenetic clones

The silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), a gynogenetic teleost, is a promising model for the study of evolutionary genetics in vertebrates. We identified ten gynogenetic clones (FZ-I~FZ-X) from triploid silver crucian carp, collected from Fangzheng County in Heilongjiang Province, China, using microsatellite markers. The genetic diversity of these gynogenetic clones was analyzed using 52 microsatellite markers. A total of 413 alleles were detected and the length of fragments ranged from 96 to 340 bp. The number of alleles per locus varied from 2~19 (mean=7.9423). The observed heterozygosity at polymorphic loci ranged from 0.10~1.00 (mean=0.80). The average allele count per gynogenetic clone ranged from 1.9423~2.1923. The ratio of the polymorphic locus was from 71.15% (VII) to 84.61% (IX) per clone. The number of genotypes ranged from 2~10 per locus. Ten genotypes were observed by analyzing each of 14 microsatellites. As a result, each gynogenetic clone could be accurately identified. In addition, the growth traits, including body weight, length, and height, among five gynogenetic clones were compared. There was a significant difference among gynogenetic clones. Clone FZ-V exhibited the best growth traits, with the largest body weight (53.17±5.24 g), length (11.38±0.37 cm) and height (4.69±0.18 cm). Our results provide basic data for the identification of silver crucian carp gynogenetic clones and can be used as a guide genetic breeding programs

Magnetic moment of hyperons in nuclear matter by using quark-meson coupling models

We calculate the magnetic moments of hyperons in dense nuclear matter by using relativistic quark models. Hyperons are treated as MIT bags, and the interactions are considered to be mediated by the exchange of scalar and vector mesons which are approximated as mean fields. Model dependence is investigated by using the quark-meson coupling model and the modified quark-meson coupling model; in the former the bag constant is independent of density and in the latter it depends on density. Both models give us the magnitudes of the magnetic moments increasing with density for most octet baryons. But there is a considerable model dependence in the values of the magnetic moments in dense medium. The magnetic moments at the nuclear saturation density calculated by the quark meson coupling model are only a few percents larger than those in free space, but the magnetic moments from the modified quark meson coupling model increase more than 10% for most hyperons. The correlations between the bag radius of hyperons and the magnetic moments of hyperons in dense matter are discussed.Comment: substantial changes in the text, submitted to PL

First Report of Alternaria Black Spot Disease Caused by Alternaria alternata on the Invasive Weed Solanum rostratum in Xinjiang, China

Solanum rostratum is a noxious weed, native to Mexico and the USA, which has invaded Liaoning, Jilin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Xinjiang and Beijing, China (Eminniya et al., 2013). In August 2015, foliar symptoms of yellowish to black spots were observed on plants of S. rostratum nearby an agricultural plantation in Changji, Xinjiang. The following year, about 17% of the 206 plants surveyed on about 0.2 ha of deserted farmland were infected from July-September (at 19-35°C under 29-97% RH)

Coordinating Pricing and Empty Container Repositioning in Two-Depot Shipping Systems

This paper studies joint decisions on pricing and empty container repositioning in two- depot shipping services with stochastic shipping demand. We formulate the problem as a stochastic dynamic programming (DP) model. The exact DP may have a high-dimensional state space due to in-transit containers. To cope with the curse of dimensionality, we develop an approximate model where the number of in-transit containers on each vessel is approxi- mated with a fixed container flow predetermined by solving a static version of the problem. Moreover, we show that the approximate value function is L♮-concave, thereby characterizing the structure of the optimal control policy for the approximate model. With the upper bound obtained by solving the information relaxation-based dual of the exact DP, we numerically show that the control policies generated from our approximate model are close to optimal when transit times span multiple periods

New mechanism and improved kinetics of hydrogen absorption and desorption of Mg(In) solid solution alloy milling with CeF 3

Abstract(#br)This paper presents improving the hydrogen absorption and desorption of Mg(In) solid solution alloy through doped with CeF 3 . A nanocomposite of Mg 0.95 In 0.05 -5 wt% CeF 3 was prepared by mechanical ball milling. The microstructures were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy. And the hydrogen storage properties were evaluated by isothermal hydrogen absorption and desorption, and pressure-composition-isothermal measurements in a temperature range of 230 °C–320 °C. The mechanism of hydrogen absorption and desorption of Mg 0.95 In 0.05 solid solution is changed by the addition of CeF 3 . Mg 0.95 In 0.05 -5 wt% CeF 3 nanocomposite transforms to MgH 2 , MgF 2 and intermetallic compounds of MgIn and CeIn 3 by hydrogenation. Upon dehydrogenation, MgH 2 reacts with the intermetallic compounds of MgIn and CeIn 3 forming a pseudo-ternary Mg(In, Ce) solid solution, which is a fully reversible reaction with a reversible hydrogen capacity～4.0 wt%. The symbiotic nanostructured CeIn 3 impedes the agglomeration of MgIn compound, thus improving the dispersibility of element In, and finally improving the reversibility of hydrogen absorption and desorption of Mg(In) solution alloy. For Mg 0.95 In 0.05 -5 wt% CeF 3 nanocomposite, the dehydriding enthalpy is reduced to about 66.1 ± 3.2 kJ⋅mol −1 ⋅H 2 , and the apparent activation energy of dehydrogenation is significantly lowered to 71.9 ± 10.0 kJ⋅mol −1 ⋅H 2 , a reduction of ～73 kJ⋅mol −1 ⋅H 2 relative to that for Mg 0.95 In 0.05 solid solution. As a result, Mg 0.95 In 0.05 -5 wt% CeF 3 nanocomposite can release ～57% H 2 in 10 min at 260 °C. The improvements of hydrogen absorption and desorption properties are mainly attributed to the reversible phase transition of Mg(In, Ce) solid solution combing with the multiphase nanostructure

Distribution and density of the partition function zeros for the diamond-decorated Ising model

Exact renormalization map of temperature between two successive decorated lattices is given, and the distribution of the partition function zeros in the complex temperature plane is obtained for any decoration-level. The rule governing the variation of the distribution pattern as the decoration-level changes is given. The densities of the zeros for the first two decoration-levels are calculated explicitly, and the qualitative features about the densities of higher decoration-levels are given by conjecture. The Julia set associated with the renormalization map is contained in the distribution of the zeros in the limit of infinite decoration level, and the formation of the Julia set in the course of increasing the decoration-level is given in terms of the variations of the zero density.Comment: 8 pages,8figure

Identification of Sitobion avenae F. resistance and genetic diversity of wheat landraces from Qinling Mountains, China

The aphid Sitobion avenae F. is one of the most harmful pests of wheat growth in the world. A primary field screening test was carried out to evaluate the S. avenae resistance of 527 wheat landraces from Shaanxi. The results indicated that 25 accessions (4.74%) were resistant to S. avenae in the three consecutive seasons, of which accession S849 was highly resistant, and seven accessions were moderately resistant. The majority of S. avenae resistant accessions come from Qinling Mountains. Then, the genetic variability of a set of 33 accessions (25 S. avenae resistant and 8 S. avenae susceptible) originating from Qinling Mountains have been assessed by 20 morphological traits and 99 simple sequence repeat markers (SSRs). Morphological traits and SSRs displayed a high level of genetic diversity within 33 accessions. The clustering of the accessions based on morphological traits and SSR markers showed significant discrepancy according to the geographical distribution, resistance to S. avenae and species of accessions. The highly and moderately resistant landrace accessions were collected from the middle and the east part of Qinling Mountains with similar morphology characters, for example slender leaves with wax, lower leaf area, and high ear density. These S. avenae resistant landraces can be used in wheat aphid resistance breeding as valuable resources

Shipping to heterogeneous customers with competing carriers

__Problem definition:__ We consider a shipper transporting and selling a short-life-cycle product to a destination market. Customers in the destination market obtain higher utility if they receive the product earlier but their time preferences are heterogeneous. Two transportation service providers (i.e., carriers) offer distinct speeds and competing freight rates. This study analyzes the shipper’s optimal shipping strategy under carrier competition. __Academic/Practical relevance:__ Perishable products are commonly shipped via multiple means of transport. The faster the mode of transport is, the more expensive it is, but speed enables the product to reach the market with higher quality. In addition to the trade-off between speed and cost, the competition between carriers can also influence the shipper’s transportation procurement strategies. Our model highlights the implications of carrier competition in a dual sourcing problem. __Methodology:__ We study a two-stage game-theoretical framework: Carriers first compete on freight rates, and then the shipper determines the shipping schedule. __Results:__ The shipper may benefit from product differentiation via dual-mode shipping, in which the shipment that arrives earlier is sold at a premium price. In equilibrium, the shipper’s profit can be U-shaped in the speed difference between carriers. Dual sourcing may be inferior to simply restricting a single shipping service in a winner-take-all fashion. __Managerial implications:__ This study reveals an underlying trade-off between the operational advantage from product differentiation and the cost advantage from carrier competition. To benefit from either of these advantages, a shipper should use two carriers with either very distinct or very similar speeds. Single sourcing may bring an additional cost advantage that outweighs the value of production differentiation through dual sourcing