Measurement of genetic parameters within and between breeder flocks of Arian broiler lines using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

The present study was carried out in an attempt to detect the genetic variation within and between four populations of commercial broiler lines using RAPD markers. Thirteen out of twenty random markers which were amplified and generating stable and reproducible bands were selected for genotyping of birds in each broiler lines. The average number of diagnostic bands per primer was 8.08 with an average number of 6.96 polymorphic bands across all breed groups. The highest (94%) and the lowest (73.5%) percentage of polymorphic bands were found within sampled birds of Arian C and D lines, respectively. Among the studied broiler lines, the highest genetic uniformity was found in line A, while the greatest within population genetic diversity was found in line C. Estimation of polymorphic loci, Nei’s gene diversity and intra-population uniformity indices suggested that genetic diversities within Arian commercial lines is high. The four strains of broiler lines clustered into two main groups using UPGMA procedure. In the first main group, the closest genetic distance was found between A and B strains, which were first clustered together and then with birds of C strain. The second main group includes birds from D strain. The mean coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst = 0.368) value reflected a high level of population differences. In total, sixty three RAPD bands were found to be strain dependent specific. Therefore, in order to design new diagnostic primers more effective in genetic discrimination among studied lines, unique bands should be cloned and sequenced.Key words: Genetic variation, broiler lines, polymorphism, random amplified polymorphic DNA markers

Cosmological braneworld solutions with bulk scalar field in DGP setup

We study cosmological dynamics of a canonical bulk scalar field in the DGP setup within a superpotential approach. We show that the normal branch of this DGP-inspired model realizes a late-time de Sitter expansion on the brane. We extend this study to the case that the bulk contains a phantom scalar field. Our detailed study in the supergravity-style analysis reveals some yet unexplored aspects of cosmological dynamics of bulk scalar field in the normal DGP setup. Some clarifying examples along with numerical analysis of the model parameter space are presented in each case.Comment: 29 pages, 12 figs, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

The OpenMolcas Web: A Community-Driven Approach to Advancing Computational Chemistry

The developments of the open-source OpenMolcas chemistry software environment since spring 2020 are described, with a focus on novel functionalities accessible in the stable branch of the package or via interfaces with other packages. These developments span a wide range of topics in computational chemistry and are presented in thematic sections: electronic structure theory, electronic spectroscopy simulations, analytic gradients and molecular structure optimizations, ab initio molecular dynamics, and other new features. This report offers an overview of the chemical phenomena and processes OpenMolcas can address, while showing that OpenMolcas is an attractive platform for state-of-the-art atomistic computer simulations

The OpenMolcas Web: A Community-Driven Approach to Advancing Computational Chemistry

The developments of the open-source OpenMolcas chemistry software environment since spring 2020 are described, with a focus on novel functionalities accessible in the stable branch of the package or via interfaces with other packages. These developments span a wide range of topics in computational chemistry and are presented in thematic sections: electronic structure theory, electronic spectroscopy simulations, analytic gradients and molecular structure optimizations, ab initio molecular dynamics, and other new features. This report offers an overview of the chemical phenomena and processes OpenMolcas can address, while showing that OpenMolcas is an attractive platform for state-of-the-art atomistic computer simulations

Electron attachment to the interhalogen compounds ClF, ICl, and IBr

Thermal electron attachment rate coefficients for three interhalogen compounds (C1F, ICl, IBr) have been measured from 300 to 900 K at pressures of 1–2 Torr using a flowing afterglow–Langmuir probe apparatus. ClF attaches somewhat inefficiently (k = 7.5×10−9 cm3 s−1) at 300 K, with the rate coefficient rising to 1.7×10−8 cm3 s−1 at 700 K. At higher temperatures the apparent rate coefficient falls steeply; however, this is interpreted as an artifact due to decomposition on the walls of the inlet line. ICl attaches with even lower efficiency (k = 9.5×10−10 cm3 s−1 at 300 K) and a less steep increase with temperature. Attachment to IBr is too slow to confidently measure with the present experiment, with an upper limit on the rate coefficient of 10−10 cm3 s−1 from 300 to 600 K. Both ClF and ICl attach dissociatively to yield Cl−, likely exclusively, though F− or I− may be produced with limits of \u3c2% and \u3c5%, respectively. The ClF attachment was further explored through ab initio calculation of the ClF and ClF− potential energy curves and R-matrix calculations of the resonance parameters which were used then for calculations of the dissociative attachment cross sections and rate coefficients. While the magnitude of the attachment rate coefficient for ClF is similar to those for both Cl2 and F2, the calculated cross sections show qualitatively different threshold behavior due to the s-wave contribution allowed by the lack of inversion symmetry. The v = 1 and 2 vibrational modes of ClF attach about three to four times faster than v = 0 and 3 at energies lower than ∼0.2 eV. The calculated rate coefficients are in good agreement with the experiment at 300 K and increase moderately less steeply with temperature

The Evaluation of Cystosonography accuracy in diagnosis of Vesicoureteral Reflux in children

Background: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) affects approximately 1% of children. It is a risk factor for acute pyelonephritis. Reflux has been identified in 30-50% of children following urinary tract infection. Reflux nephropathy is one of the causes of hypertension and end stage renal disease in children. The primary diagnostic procedure for evaluation of VUR in children is fluoroscopic voiding cystography (VCUG) and radionuclide cystography (RNC). Many investigators have used voiding urosonography (VUS) for the diagnosis of reflux in an effort to eliminate the radiation exposure especially during follow-up period. Methods: We analyzed 25 children with suspected VUR who underwent RNC and VUS concurrently in Labbafi Nejad Hospital in Tehran. Reflux was diagnosed in 8 patients by RNC and in 9 patients by VUS. One case with reflux in RNC was not detected by VUS, and 2 cases with reflux in VUS were not detected by RNC. Findings: The diagnosis of reflux by these two procedures (RNC and VUS) was comparable (p=0.000, r=0.728). In addition, grades of reflux reported by these procedures were also comparable (p=0.000, r=0.724). We considered RNC as the method of choice for reflux diagnosis. The specifity of VUS was 88% and its sensitivity 87%. Accuracy of this imaging was 88% (PPV=77%, NPV=94%). Conclusions: These results showed that VUS is a valuable procedure in follow-up and screening of patients with vesicoureteral reflux