Cryptic diversity of a widespread global pathogen reveals expanded threats to amphibian conservation

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.Biodiversity loss is one major outcome of human-mediated ecosystem disturbance. One way that humans have triggered wildlife declines is by transporting disease-causing agents to remote areas of the world. Amphibians have been hit particularly hard by disease due in part to a globally distributed pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [Bd]). Prior research has revealed important insights into the biology and distribution of Bd; however, there are still many outstanding questions in this system. Although we know that there are multiple divergent lineages of Bd that differ in pathogenicity, we know little about how these lineages are distributed around the world and where lineages may be coming into contact. Here, we implement a custom genotyping method for a global set of Bd samples. This method is optimized to amplify and sequence degraded DNA from noninvasive skin swab samples. We describe a divergent lineage of Bd, which we call BdASIA3, that appears to be widespread in Southeast Asia. This lineage co-occurs with the global panzootic lineage (BdGPL) in multiple localities. Additionally, we shed light on the global distribution of BdGPL and highlight the expanded range of another lineage, BdCAPE. Finally, we argue that more monitoring needs to take place where Bd lineages are coming into contact and where we know little about Bd lineage diversity. Monitoring need not use expensive or difficult field techniques but can use archived swab samples to further explore the history—and predict the future impacts—of this devastating pathogen

A METHODOLOGY AND SYSTEM FOR LOGICAL DATABASE DESIGN

Current database design methods are manual methods, relying heavily on the designer\u27s skill and experience. These methods are ineffective for large design problems. An interactive computer design aid can store design parameters, and perform pre-processing before design decisions are made. This thesis describes the models and techniques implemented within such a design system. Database design consists of: (1) modelling the structure and usage of users\u27 data (view modelling), (2) integrating forming a global model (view integration), and (3) designing an efficient schema (schema generation). View modelling efforts have produced numerous data models that can not be manipulated, and ignore the data\u27s usage. View integration efforts assume unique relationships hold between pairs of globally unique data items. Schema generation efforts either deal solely with the data\u27s structure (possibly producing inefficient designs), or solely with processing costs. The latter results omit or restrict accessing mechanisms in order to utilize optimization methods (e.g., integer programming)

An E log E Line Crossing Algorithm for Levelled Graphs

Counting the number of crossings between straightline segments is an important problem in several areas of Computer Science. It is also a performance bottleneck for Sugiyama-style layout algorithms. This paper describes an algorithm for leveled graphs, based on the clasification of edges that is O(e log e) where e is the number of edges. This improves on the best algorithm in the literature which is O(e^{1.695}log e). The improved crossing algorithm enabled an implementation of a Sugiyama-style algorithm to lay auf graphs of tens of thousands of nodes in a few seconds on current hardware

Office-by-example: An integrated office system and database manager

Office-by-Example (OBE) is an integrated office information system that has been under development at IBM Research. OBE, an extension of Query-by-Example, supports various office features such as database tables, word processing, electronic mail, graphics, images, and so forth. These seemingly heterogeneous features are integrated through a language feature called example elements. Applica-tions involving example elements are processed by the database manager, an integrated part of the OBE system. In this paper we describe the facilities and architecture of the OBE system and discuss the techniques for integrating heterogeneous objects. Categories and Subject Descriptors: D.3.4 [Programming Languages]: Processors-parsing; D.4.1 [Operating Systems]: Process Management-concurrency; E.2 [Data Storage Representations]: H.1.2 [Models and Principles]: User/Machine Systems--human factors; H.2.0 [Database Man