In silico identification and characterisation of 17 polymorphic anonymous non-coding sequence markers (ANMs) for red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica)

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Digging for gold nuggets : uncovering novel candidate genes for variation in gastrointestinal nematode burden in a wild bird species

Acknowledgements This study was funded by a BBSRC studentship (MAWenzel) and NERC grants NE/H00775X/1 and NE/D000602/1 (SB Piertney). The authors are grateful to Marianne James, Mario Roder and Keliya Bai for field-work assistance, Lucy M.I. Webster and Steve Paterson for help during prior development of genetic markers,Heather Ritchie for helpful comments on manuscript drafts and all estate owners, factors and keepers for access to field sites, most particularly MJ Taylor and Mike Nisbet (Airlie), Neil Brown (Allargue), RR Gledson and David Scrimgeour (Delnadamph), Andrew Salvesen and John Hay (Dinnet), Stuart Young and Derek Calder (Edinglassie), Kirsty Donald and DavidBusfield (Glen Dye), Neil Hogbin and Ab Taylor (Glen Muick), Alistair Mitchell (Glenlivet), Simon Blackett, Jim Davidson and Liam Donald (Invercauld), Richard Cooke and Fred Taylor (Invermark), Shaila Rao and Christopher Murphy (Mar Lodge), and Ralph Peters and Philip Astor (Tillypronie)Peer reviewedPostprin

Comprehensive quantum Monte Carlo study of the quantum critical points in planar dimerized/quadrumerized Heisenberg models

We study two planar square lattice Heisenberg models with explicit dimerization or quadrumerization of the couplings in the form of ladder and plaquette arrangements. We investigate the quantum critical points of those models by means of (stochastic series expansion) quantum Monte Carlo simulations as a function of the coupling ratio $\alpha = J^\prime/J$. The critical point of the order-disorder quantum phase transition in the ladder model is determined as $\alpha_\mathrm{c} = 1.9096(2)$ improving on previous studies. For the plaquette model we obtain $\alpha_\mathrm{c} = 1.8230(2)$ establishing a first benchmark for this model from quantum Monte Carlo simulations. Based on those values we give further convincing evidence that the models are in the three-dimensional (3D) classical Heisenberg universality class. The results of this contribution shall be useful as references for future investigations on planar Heisenberg models such as concerning the influence of non-magnetic impurities at the quantum critical point.Comment: 10+ pages, 7 figures, 4 table

Spatial audio in small display screen devices

Our work addresses the problem of (visual) clutter in mobile device interfaces. The solution we propose involves the translation of technique-from the graphical to the audio domain-for expliting space in information representation. This article presents an illustrative example in the form of a spatialisedaudio progress bar. In usability tests, participants performed background monitoring tasks significantly more accurately using this spatialised audio (a compared with a conventional visual) progress bar. Moreover, their performance in a simultaneously running, visually demanding foreground task was significantly improved in the eye-free monitoring condition. These results have important implications for the design of multi-tasking interfaces for mobile devices

A Systematic Study of the Native Geum L. species of Illinois

A systematic study of the seven species of Geum L. (Rosaceae) native to Illinois including G. aleppicum var. strictum (Aiton) Fernald, G. canadense Jaquin, G. laciniatum Murray var. trichocarpum Fernald, G. rivale Linnaeus, G. triflorum Pursh, G. vernum (Rafinesque) Torrey & Gray, and G. virginianum Linnaeus is presented. Early classification systems are briefly compared, especially regarding the topic of subgenera. Detailed taxonomic descriptions, distribution information including county citations, and identification keys were developed for this study. Two seperate keys, one for floral characters and the second for specimens in fruit are given for greater ease in proper identification. Two principal component analyses (PCA), one including vegetative and floral characteristics and another including vegetative and mature fruit characteristics, are used to illustrate the relative cohesiveness between the Illinois species. Most of the species involved show a high degree of separation in both floral and fruit studies. Of particular interest is the relationship between Geum canadense and G. virginianum. It has been proposed that G. virginianum is a naturaly occuring hybrid between G. canadense and G. aleppicum var. strictum. In the floral study these species segregate completely, although an affinity is apparent. Mild cohesion between the clusters in the fruit study representing Geum canadense and G. virginianum does reinforce the high degree of morphological similarity between these species. Indeed in fruit the main distinguishing characteristic is that the stipules of G. virginianum are up to five times the length of those on specimens of G. canadense. There are many morphological differences between G. virginianum and G. aleppicum var. strictum. From the distributions of the proposed parents it is unlikely that G. virginianum occurs as a natural hybrid in Illinois. Geum virginianum occurs in the southern 1/4 of Illinois while G. aleppicum var. strictum occurs in the northern 2/3 of the state. These groupings conform to the currently accepted species

Identification and characterisation of 17 polymorphic candidate genes for response to parasitic nematode (Trichostrongylus tenuis) infection in red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica)

Acknowledgements This study was funded by a BBSRC studentship (MA Wenzel) and NERC Grants NE/H00775X/1 and NE/D000602/1 (SB Piertney). We are grateful to Jacob Hoglund for providing willow grouse samples, Mario Roder, Keliya Bai, Marianne James, Matt Oliver, Gill Murray-Dickson, Francois Mougeot and Jesus Martınez-Padilla for help with fieldwork, and all grouse estate factors, owners and keepers, most particularly Alistair Mitchell, Shaila Rao, Christopher Murphy, Richard Cooke and Fred Taylor, for providing access to estate game larders.Peer reviewedPostprin