Mapping QTL for sex and growth traits in Salt-Tolerant Tilapia (Oreochromis spp. X O. mossambicus)

In aquaculture, growth and sex are economically important traits. To accelerate genetic improvement in increasing growth in salt-tolerant tilapia, we conducted QTL mapping for growth traits and sex with an F2 family, including 522 offspring and two parents. We used 144 polymorphic microsatellites evenly covering the genome of tilapia to genotype the family. QTL analyses were carried out using interval mapping for all individuals, males and females in the family, respectively. Using all individuals, three suggestive QTL for body weight, body length and body thickness respectively were detected in LG20, LG22 and LG12 and explained 2.4% to 3.1% of phenotypic variance (PV). When considering only males, five QTL for body weight were detected on five LGs, and explained 4.1 to 6.3% of PV. Using only females from the F2 family, three QTL for body weight were detected on LG1, LG6 and LG8, and explained 7.9–14.3% of PV. The QTL for body weight in males and females were located in different LGs, suggesting that in salt-tolerant tilapia, different set of genes ‘switches’ control the growth in males and females. QTL for sex were mapped on LG1 and LG22, indicating multigene sex determination in the salt-tolerant tilapia. This study provides new insights on the locations and effects of QTL for growth traits and sex, and sets the foundation for fine mapping for future marker-assisted selection for growth and sex in salt-tolerant tilapia aquaculture

3D porous Li3V2(PO4)3/hard carbon composites for improving the rate performance of lithium ion batteries

A 3D porous Li3V2(PO4)3/hard carbon composite delivers a capacity of 98 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles at 10C.</p

Graphene-like carbon sheet/Fe3O4 nanocomposites derived from soda papermaking black liquor for high performance lithium ion batteries

Alkali lignins and its degradation products in the soda papermaking black liquor (SPBL) are renewable resource with the highest natural carbon content. In this work we convert SPBL into the high-performance carbon-based nanocomposite anodes. The unique functional groups of lignin biomass induce spontaneous formation of graphene-like carbon sheet (GCS) in-situ doped SiC/S. The lamellar GCS/FeO nanocomposite (GCS/FO-NC) is facilely prepared via one-step in-situ thermo-chemical method at 700\ua0°C, in which donut shaped FeO nanoparticles with superlattices and inner surface are homogeneously embedded in the interlayer of GCS and are also anchored on its surface. The GCS/FO-NC anode exhibits a ultrahigh first discharge specific capacity of 3829\ua0mAh\ua0g at 50\ua0mA\ua0g in a coin-type Li ion battery, which is more than 4 times the theoretical capacity (924\ua0mAh\ua0g) of FeO and 5 times that of the graphene anode (744\ua0mAh. g). Even at a high current density (1000\ua0mA\ua0g), it still exhibits a high reversible capacity (750\ua0mAh\ua0g) after 1400 discharge/charge cycles. More importantly, the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand of SPBL is up to 83.4% during the synthesis process, which reduce its load to environment and synthetic cost of carbon-based nanocomposite anodes

Effect of dried tangerine peel extract supplementation on the growth performance and antioxidant status of broiler chicks

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dried tangerine peel extract (DTPE) supplementation on the growth performance and immune and antioxidant status of broiler chicks. A total of 525day-old, male, Arbour Acres (AA) broiler chicks were fed a basal diet (CTR) either with or without 80, 160, 240 and 480mg DTPE/kg diet. The chicks were randomly assigned into five dietary groups for a 42-day experiment. There were seven replicates per group and 15 chicks per replicate. At 42 days of age, two birds from each cage were selected for blood sampling. The dietary DTPE supplementation linearly increased the body weight and the average daily gain (p=.03; p=.03) and quadratically increased the average daily feed intake (p=.02) during the starter period. In addition, the plasma lysozyme level in the 80 or 160mg/kg DTPE group increased compared to the CTR group (p=.02 and .07, respectively). Chicks fed 80-mg/kg DTPE reduced the malondialdehyde concentration (p=.02) compared with birds fed the CTR diets. Moreover, the plasma glutathione peroxidase activities in the low DTPE dietary groups (80 and 160mg/kg) were higher than in the CTR (p<.01) and 240mg/kg DTPE group (p<.01 and p=.02, respectively). The results of the present study indicate that dietary DTPE with low supplemental dosage (<= 160mg/kg) might positively modulate the systemic antioxidative defence property of chicks

Unconventional MBE Strategies from Computer Simulations for Optimized Growth Conditions

We investigate the influence of step edge diffusion (SED) and desorption on Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) using kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations of the solid-on-solid (SOS) model. Based on these investigations we propose two strategies to optimize MBE growth. The strategies are applicable in different growth regimes: During layer-by-layer growth one can exploit the presence of desorption in order to achieve smooth surfaces. By additional short high flux pulses of particles one can increase the growth rate and assist layer-by-layer growth. If, however, mounds are formed (non-layer-by-layer growth) the SED can be used to control size and shape of the three-dimensional structures. By controlled reduction of the flux with time we achieve a fast coarsening together with smooth step edges.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The improvement of Pd nanoclusters electro-catalytic properties for FAO by the addition of Co element

Conference Name:2014 International Conference on Materials Science and Engineering Technology, MSET 2014. Conference Address: Shanghai, China. Time:June 28, 2014 - June 29, 2014.East China University of Science and Technology; Engineering and Industry Technology Institute; Shanghai JiaoTong University; Shanghai University of Engineering ScienceNear-monodisperse Pd and PdCo nanoclusters were synthesized by physical vapor deposition using a plasma-gas-condensation cluster deposition system and tested for catalyzing formic acid oxidation. Under the condition of high vacuum and inert gas, NCs with clean surface and uniform size were obtained. The cyclic voltammetry tests revealed that the electrochemical surface area was increased from 49.7 m2 g-1 to 51.7 m2 g-1 and the peak current density of catalyzing FAO was raised from 0.115 mA cm-2 to 0.125 mA cm-2 when about 12wt. % Co element was added. Additionally, the tolerance to CO poisoning of Pd could also be improved by the addition of Co. The result indicated that this method offered a chemical-free way to prepare clean and efficient Pd-based nanoscale catalytics and encouraged deeper exploration for electrochemichal catalytic reactions. ? (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland

A review of Monte Carlo simulations of polymers with PERM

In this review, we describe applications of the pruned-enriched Rosenbluth method (PERM), a sequential Monte Carlo algorithm with resampling, to various problems in polymer physics. PERM produces samples according to any given prescribed weight distribution, by growing configurations step by step with controlled bias, and correcting "bad" configurations by "population control". The latter is implemented, in contrast to other population based algorithms like e.g. genetic algorithms, by depth-first recursion which avoids storing all members of the population at the same time in computer memory. The problems we discuss all concern single polymers (with one exception), but under various conditions: Homopolymers in good solvents and at the $\Theta$ point, semi-stiff polymers, polymers in confining geometries, stretched polymers undergoing a forced globule-linear transition, star polymers, bottle brushes, lattice animals as a model for randomly branched polymers, DNA melting, and finally -- as the only system at low temperatures, lattice heteropolymers as simple models for protein folding. PERM is for some of these problems the method of choice, but it can also fail. We discuss how to recognize when a result is reliable, and we discuss also some types of bias that can be crucial in guiding the growth into the right directions.Comment: 29 pages, 26 figures, to be published in J. Stat. Phys. (2011

Monthly sunspot number time series analysis and its modeling through autoregressive artificial neural network

This study reports a statistical analysis of monthly sunspot number time series and observes non homogeneity and asymmetry within it. Using Mann-Kendall test a linear trend is revealed. After identifying stationarity within the time series we generate autoregressive AR(p) and autoregressive moving average (ARMA(p,q)). Based on minimization of AIC we find 3 and 1 as the best values of p and q respectively. In the next phase, autoregressive neural network (AR-NN(3)) is generated by training a generalized feedforward neural network (GFNN). Assessing the model performances by means of Willmott's index of second order and coefficient of determination, the performance of AR-NN(3) is identified to be better than AR(3) and ARMA(3,1).Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure

Hydrologic risk analysis in the Yangtze River basin through coupling Gaussian mixtures into copulas

Natural Sciences Foundation, Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canad

Combination of searches for Higgs boson pairs in pp collisions at \sqrts = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

This letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair production using up to 36.1 fb(-1) of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The combination is performed using six analyses searching for Higgs boson pairs decaying into the b (b) over barb (b) over bar, b (b) over barW(+)W(-), b (b) over bar tau(+)tau(-), W+W-W+W-, b (b) over bar gamma gamma and W+W-gamma gamma final states. Results are presented for non-resonant and resonant Higgs boson pair production modes. No statistically significant excess in data above the Standard Model predictions is found. The combined observed (expected) limit at 95% confidence level on the non-resonant Higgs boson pair production cross-section is 6.9 (10) times the predicted Standard Model cross-section. Limits are also set on the ratio (kappa(lambda)) of the Higgs boson self-coupling to its Standard Model value. This ratio is constrained at 95% confidence level in observation (expectation) to -5.0 &lt; kappa(lambda) &lt; 12.0 (-5.8 &lt; kappa(lambda) &lt; 12.0). In addition, limits are set on the production of narrow scalar resonances and spin-2 Kaluza-Klein Randall-Sundrum gravitons. Exclusion regions are also provided in the parameter space of the habemus Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and the Electroweak Singlet Model. For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2019.135103</p