Molecular Genetics of Salinity Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Due to the threat of salinity stress to Louisiana rice production, an effort was made to understand the molecular genetics of salinity tolerance with the overall goal of developing salt tolerant varieties. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine if salinity tolerance exist in the US rice varieties, 2) map the additive and epistatic QTLs for traits related to seedling salinity tolerance in recombinant inbred lines (RILs) using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS)-derived SNP markers, and 3) identify and validate stable QTLs and their effects in introgression lines (ILs) of Pokkali in Bengal background. All experiments for phenotypic characterization were conducted in hydroponics at salinity level of 12dSm-1 in the greenhouse. Among the thirty Southern US rice varieties characterized under salt stress, LAH10, R609, and Cheniere were tolerant. Additionally, CL162, Jupiter, Jazzman, Templeton, Cypress, Neptune, and Caffey were identified as moderately tolerant based on clustering and discriminant analyses using the linear combination of six traits. On the other hand, clustering based on DNA profiles did not correspond to the varietal grouping based on salinity responses. Nona Bokra, Pokkali, and Pokkali-derived lines remained the donors of choice for highest salt tolerance. Alternatively, TCCP266, Geumgangbyeo, and R609 with few undesirable agronomic traits were recommended as donors for rice improvement. For QTL mapping, 189 lines of F6 RIL population were phenotyped and characterized by GBS. A total of 9303 SNP markers were used for construction of genetic map. Eighty-five QTLs with small and large effects were identified for nine traits. Of which, 11 QTLs co-localized with 14 reported QTLs. Epistatic QTLs were also mapped and indicated the complexity of salinity tolerance. Based on the annotation of candidate genes within QTL intervals, ion transporters, osmotic regulators, transcription factors, and protein kinases may play important roles in salinity tolerance. On the other hand, at least 14 QTLs in RILs were validated in the IL population. Our study emphasized the importance of salt injury score (SIS) and seedling vigor-QTLs for salinity tolerance. Based on tolerant ILs, the probable mechanisms of tolerance are Na+ dilution in leaves, Na+ ion compartmentation, and by synthesis of compatible solutes. The tolerant ILs will serve as improved variety of Bengal or donor breeding lines for transferring salinity tolerance to other US elite varieties

Spherical nematics with a threefold valence

We present a theoretical study of the energetics of thin nematic shells with two charge one-half defects and one charge-one defect. We determine the optimal arrangement: the defects are located on a great circle at the vertices of an isosceles triangle with angles of 66 degrees at the charge one-half defects and a distinct angle of 48 degrees, consistent with experimental findings. We also analyse thermal fluctuations around this ground state and estimate the energy as a function of thickness. We find that the energy of the three-defect shell is close to the energy of other known configurations having two charge-one and four charge one-half defects. This finding, together with the large energy barriers separating one configuration from the others, explains their observation in experiments as well as their long-time stability.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Reconfigurable Flows and Defect Landscape of Confined Active Nematics

Using novel micro-printing techniques, we develop a versatile experimental setup that allows us to study how lateral confinement tames the active flows and defect properties of the microtubule/kinesin active nematic system. We demonstrate that the active length scale that determines the self-organization of this system in unconstrained geometries loses its relevance under strong lateral confinement. Dramatic transitions are observed from chaotic to vortex lattices and defect-free unidirectional flows. Defects, which determine the active flow behavior, are created and annihilated on the channel walls rather than in the bulk, and acquire a strong orientational order in narrow channels. Their nucleation is governed by an instability whose wavelength is effectively screened by the channel width. All these results are recovered in simulations, and the comparison highlights the role of boundary conditions

Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance in Different Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes Responsible for Complicated, Noncomplicated, and Traveler's Diarrhea Cases

This work was supported by grants MPY-1042/14 and PI14CIII/00051 from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Sergio Sánchez acknowledges the Miguel Servet Programme of the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, for his research contract (CP13/00237).S

The Transformational Leader in Nursing Practice – an approach to retain nursing staff

Transformational leaders have been shown to influence positive work environments and support the retention of nursing staff. While exemplars have been found in upper-level management, the implementation of these characteristics in unit-based leaders is less explained. The elements of the transformational leader on followers and the organization—individual consideration, individual stimulation, inspirational motivation, and idealized influence—can engage nursing staff to remain in an organization which will promote positive patient outcomes. This article will review the elements of the transformational leader and share two exemplars of the transformational metanarrative as demonstrated in nursing care units. Both exemplars demonstrate how the transformational leader can influence the retention of nursing staff and support unit level change to support positive patient outcomes

Fundamentos jurídicos para regular la elección del Régimen Patrimonial en la unión de hecho en el Perú

El objetivo de estudiar los fundamentos jurídicos del régimen patrimonial en la unión de hecho en el Perú, permite determinar los fundamentos jurídicos del régimen patrimonial de separación de bienes para implementarlos en la regulación de la unión de hecho, además de analizar el régimen de separación de bienes en la doctrina y la legislación peruana, analizar el principio - derecho de protección de la familia y su implicancia en las uniones de hecho, relacionar el derecho de igualdad ante la ley con la elección de regímenes patrimoniales en la unión de hecho, identificar la autonomía de la voluntad en la posibilidad de regular la separación de bienes en las uniones de hecho, mostrar la importancia de la transcendencia registral dentro de la elección de regímenes patrimoniales en las uniones de hecho, analizar la realidad jurídica de la separación de bienes en las uniones de hecho y evaluar las opiniones de especialistas y abogados litigantes sobre la implementación de la elección de regímenes patrimoniales en la unión de hecho. Según el propósito de la investigación es básica porque permite dar solución al problema, según el alcance o nivel de la investigación es descriptiva, según el diseño es no experimental y según la secuencia temporal es transversal porque se recoge información en un solo periodo de tiempo. Finalmente, se llegó a la conclusión que los fundamentos jurídicos regulan la elección del régimen patrimonial “unión de hecho” son: los principios constitucionales de protección de la familia, el derecho de igualdad ante la ley, autonomía de la voluntad de los integrantes de las uniones de hecho, y el principio de trascendencia registral.The objective of studying the legal foundations of the patrimonial regime in the de facto union in Peru, allows to determine the legal foundations of the patrimonial regime of separation of assets to implement them in the regulation of the de facto union, in addition to analyzing the regime of separation of goods in the Peruvian doctrine and legislation, to analyze the principle - right of protection of the family and its implication in de facto unions, to relate the right of equality before the law with the choice of patrimonial systems in the de facto union, to identify the autonomy of the will in the possibility of regulating the separation of property in de facto unions, showing the importance of the importance of registration within the choice of patrimonial regimes in de facto unions, analyzing the legal reality of the separation of property in de facto unions, de facto unions and evaluate the opinions of specialists and trial lawyers on the implementation of the election of reg Property taxes in the de facto union. According to the purpose of the investigation, it is basic because it allows solving the problem, according to the scope or level of the investigation, it is descriptive, according to the non-experimental design, and according to the temporal sequence, it is transversal because information is collected in a single period of time. Finally, it was concluded that the legal foundations that regulate the choice of the patrimonial regime "de facto union" are: the constitutional principles of protection of the family, the right of equality before the law, autonomy of the will of the members of de facto unions, and the principle of registration transcendence

Genetic variation and possible origins of weedy rice found in California.

Control of weeds in cultivated crops is a pivotal component in successful crop production allowing higher yield and higher quality. In rice-growing regions worldwide, weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea Rosh.) is a weed related to cultivated rice which infests rice fields. With populations across the globe evolving a suite of phenotypic traits characteristic of weeds and of cultivated rice, varying hypotheses exist on the origin of weedy rice. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity and possible origin of weedy rice in California using 98 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and an Rc gene-specific marker. By employing phylogenetic clustering analysis, we show that four to five genetically distinct biotypes of weedy rice exist in California. Analysis of population structure and genetic distance among individuals reveals diverse evolutionary origins of California weedy rice biotypes, with ancestry derived from indica, aus, and japonica cultivated rice as well as possible contributions from weedy rice from the southern United States and wild rice. Because this diverse parentage primarily consists of weedy, wild, and cultivated rice not found in California, most existing weedy rice biotypes likely originated outside California