Novel Mutations That Affect Stomata Development in \u3cem\u3eArabidopsis thaliana\u3c/em\u3e

Located on the epidermal surface of plants, stomata are small, pore-like structures that act as channels to exchange gas and water vapor between plant cells and the environment. Concentrations of gases and water within the plant cell are regulated through opening and closing of the stomata by turgor-driven movements. In Arabidopsis thaliana, development and differentiation of cells is controlled by the ERECTA (ER) family of genes (ERECTA, ERL1, and ERL2) which encode leucine-rich repeat-receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs). Acting synergistically, they direct cell division in different tissues and formation of stomata in epidermis. To better understand how ERECTA family genes regulate stomata development we conducted a forward genetic screen. Approximately 10,000 seeds of erl1erl2 were mutagenized using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). The M1 plants were grown and the M2 seeds were collected. Then, M2 seedlings were microscopically screened for stomata clustering. Two mutants, JMC19 and MC12 were chosen to pursue further because a high percentage of stomata in clusters was observed in their cotyledons. Both mutant lines were crossed with erl1erl2 in order to rid their genomes of other EMS induced mutations and to determine the nature of obtained mutations (recessive versus dominant; single or double). The phenotype of novel mutants (stomata index and stomata clustering) was compared to the erl1erl2. The two lines were also crossed with Col to see if the phenotype of novel mutations depended on erl1and/or erl2 mutations. After characterization of mutations, determining the location of the mutated JMC19 and MC12 genes through positional cloning is the next step. JMC19 and MC12 were crossed with Landsberg erecta (Ler) to analyze recombination frequency between mutant phenotype and a set of genetic markers. The frequency at which the mutant gene(s) recombined with markers on Ler chromosomes determined the location of the MC12. This method will also be used for JMC19 in the future. The overall goal of the study is to understand, through the use of forward genetics, the mechanism by which stomata are spaced and to identify the gene(s) that control this developmental process

Software for Automated Generation of Cartesian Meshes

Cart3D is a collection of computer programs for generating Cartesian meshes [for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and other applications] in volumes bounded by solid objects. Aspects of Cart3D at earlier stages of development were reported in "Robust and Efficient Generation of Cartesian Meshes for CFD" (ARC-14275), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 23, No. 8 (August 1999), page 30. The geometric input to Cart3D comprises surface triangulations like those commonly generated by computer-aided-design programs. Complexly shaped objects can be represented as assemblies of simpler ones. Cart3D deletes all portions of such an assembled object that are not on the exterior surface. Intersections between components are preserved in the resulting triangulation. A tie-breaking routine unambiguously resolves geometric degeneracies. Then taking the intersected surface triangulation as input, the volume mesh is generated through division of cells of an initially coarse hexahedral grid. Cells are subdivided to refine the grid in regions of increased surface curvature and/or increased flow gradients. Cells that become split into multiple unconnected regions by thin pieces of surface are identified

Using N-mixture models to estimate abundance and temporal trends of black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis L.) populations from aerial counts

Inaccurate estimates of animal populations may lead to flawed management interventions, therefore, it is essential to understand the status and population trend of a species in order to plan its management efficiently. Aerial surveys are considered a useful method for estimating the population size of large conspicuous animals inhabiting large areas, but raw count data from aerial surveys usually underestimate population sizes due to imperfect detection. The use of N-mixture models with aerial count data provides a useful tool to estimate the population sizes while taking detection probability into account. As a study case we used aerial surveys conducted for monitoring black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) in Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilanesberg Nature Reserve (South Africa) during 1999–2015, and we analysed data with a dynamic extension of the N-mixture model. We estimated 0.078–0.098 and 0.139–0.142 individuals/km2, respectively, and we found evidence for density dependence in both reserves with a carrying capacity of 0.122 (0.102–0.142) individuals/100 km2. Based on simulations used to assess precision of the estimates, root-mean-square error model (RMSE) estimates was significantly smaller than those for the raw maximum counts. The N-mixture models provide a promising approach to estimate population size, trends and demographic characteristics of large conspicuous mammals such as black rhinoceroses. Such analysis can provide estimates that are more accurate than raw counts. In addition, use of model covariates that affect a species' population parameters can provide useful information for their conservation and management.Jose Jimenez is funded by Plan TIFIES (Spanish Action Plan against illegal trafficking and international poaching of wild species). Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica. Government of Spain.Peer reviewe

Generalized entropy and global quantum discord in multiparty quantum systems

Using Tsallis-q entropy, we introduce the generalized concept of global quantum discord, namely the q-global quantum discord, and provide its analytic evaluation for two classes of multiqubit states. We also provide a sufficient condition, for which the pairwise quantum correlations in terms of q-global quantum discord is monogamous in multiparty quantum systemsopen

Tibial Artery Calcification as a Marker of Amputation Risk in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between calcification in tibial arteries, the degree of limb ischemia, and the near-term risk of amputation.BackgroundDetermining the amputation risk in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains difficult. Developing new measures to identify patients who are at high risk for amputation would allow for targeted interventions and focused trials aimed at limb preservation.MethodsTwo hundred twenty-nine patients underwent evaluation by history, arterial Doppler, and multislice computed tomography of the lower extremities. We then explored the relationship between a tibial artery calcification (TAC), traditional risk factors for PAD, limb status at presentation, and near-term amputation risk.ResultsIncreased age and traditional atherosclerosis risk factors were associated with higher TAC scores. Patients with critical limb ischemia had the highest TAC scores, and increasing TAC scores were associated with worsening levels of limb ischemia in ordinal regression analysis. Receiver-operator characteristic analysis suggested that the TAC score predicted amputation better than the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Symptomatic patients with a TAC score greater than 400 had a significantly increased risk of amputation. In Cox regression analysis, there was a strong association between the TAC score and the risk of major amputation that remained after adjustment for traditional risk factors and the ABI.ConclusionsIn patients presenting with PAD, the TAC score is associated with the stage of disease and it identifies those who are at high risk for amputation better than traditional risk factors and an abnormal ABI

Spatial and temporal characteristics of circumferential flow-function relations during acute myocardial ischemia in the conscious dog

In the anesthetized open-chest dog the ischemic area produced by coronary occlusion is surrounded by an area of nonischemic contractile dysfunction, identified as the functional border zone. To establish whether a similar functional border zone exists in the conscious animal during acute regional ischemia and to determine its spatial dimensions and temporal changes, we performed simultaneous two-dimensional echocardiography and radioactive microsphere studies in nine chronically instrumented dogs. We produced circumferential flow-function maps at 22.5-degree intervals over the full circumference of the left ventricle at the midpapillary muscle level during control conditions, 5 minutes after left circumflex occlusion, and 2.5 hours after left circumflex occlusion. After occlusion there was no change in left ventricular end-diastolic area, an increase in left ventricular end-systolic area (p p p p < 0.01) in the functional border zone, there was no difference in subendocardial blood flow between the functional border zone and the control nonischemic area. We conclude that a discrete functional border zone exists in the conscious dog during acute regional ischemia produced by circumflex coronary occlusion, which does not change during the early evolution of myocardial infarction. The functional border zone likely contributes to minor overestimation of infarct size in the early hours after myocardial infarction if extent of left ventricular dysfunction is used as an index of infarction in humans.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27055/1/0000045.pd

Phylogenomic analysis and revised classification of atypoid mygalomorph spiders (Araneae, Mygalomorphae), with notes on arachnid ultraconserved element loci

The atypoid mygalomorphs include spiders from three described families that build a diverse array of entrance web constructs, including funnel-and-sheet webs, purse webs, trapdoors, turrets and silken collars. Molecular phylogenetic analyses have generally supported the monophyly of Atypoidea, but prior studies have not sampled all relevant taxa. Here we generated a dataset of ultraconserved element loci for all described atypoid genera, including taxa (Mecicobothrium and Hexurella) key to understanding familial monophyly, divergence times, and patterns of entrance web evolution. We show that the conserved regions of the arachnid UCE probe set target exons, such that it should be possible to combine UCE and transcriptome datasets in arachnids. We also show that different UCE probes sometimes target the same protein, and under the matching parameters used here show that UCE alignments sometimes include non-orthologs. Using multiple curated phylogenomic matrices we recover a monophyletic Atypoidea, and reveal that the family Mecicobothriidae comprises four separate and divergent lineages. Fossil-calibrated divergence time analyses suggest ancient Triassic (or older) origins for several relictual atypoid lineages, with late Cretaceous/early Tertiary divergences within some genera indicating a high potential for cryptic species diversity. The ancestral entrance web construct for atypoids, and all mygalomorphs, is reconstructed as a funnel-and-sheet web

Coping Skills and Parent Support Mediate the Association Between Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Adolescent Cigarette Use

To examine mediators of the association between childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and adolescent cigarette use

LGBT community, social network characteristics, and smoking behaviors in young sexual minority women.

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106605/1/LGBT community, social network characteristics, and smoking behaviors in young sexual minority women.pd

Review of recent experimental progresses in Foundations of Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Information obtained in Parametric Down Conversion Experiments at IENGF

We review some recent experimental progresses concerning Foundations of Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Information obtained in Quantum Optics Laboratory "Carlo Novero" at IENGF. More in details, after a short presentation of our polarization entangled photons source (based on precise superposition of two Type I PDC emission) and of the results obtained with it, we describe an innovative double slit experiment where two degenerate photons produced by PDC are sent each to a specific slit. Beyond representing an interesting example of relation between visibility of interference and "welcher weg" knowledge, this configuration has been suggested for testing de Broglie-Bohm theory against Standard Quantum Mechanics. Our results perfectly fit SQM results, but disagree with dBB predictions. Then, we discuss a recent experiment addressed to clarify the issue of which wave-particle observables are really to be considered when discussing wave particle duality. This experiments realises the Agarwal et al. theoretical proposal, overcoming limitations of a former experiment. Finally, we hint to the realization of a high-intensity high-spectral-selected PDC source to be used for quantum information studies