Fine mapping of qGW1, a major QTL for grain weight in sorghum

Key message We detected seven QTLs for 100-grain weight in sorghum using an F 2 population, and delimited qGW1 to a 101-kb region on the short arm of chromosome 1, which contained 13 putative genes. Abstract Sorghum is one of the most important cereal crops. Breeding high-yielding sorghum varieties will have a profound impact on global food security. Grain weight is an important component of grain yield. It is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs); however, the genetic basis of grain weight in sorghum is not well understood. In the present study, using an F2 population derived from a cross between the grain sorghum variety SA2313 (Sorghum bicolor) and the Sudan-grass variety Hiro-1 (S. bicolor), we detected seven QTLs for 100-grain weight. One of them, qGW1, was detected consistently over 2 years and contributed between 20 and 40 % of the phenotypic variation across multiple genetic backgrounds. Using extreme recombinants from a fine-mapping F3 population, we delimited qGW1 to a 101-kb region on the short arm of chromosome 1, containing 13 predicted gene models, one of which was found to be under purifying selection during domestication. However, none of the grain size candidate genes shared sequence similarity with previously cloned grain weight-related genes from rice. This study will facilitate isolation of the gene underlying qGW1 and advance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of grain weight. SSR markers linked to the qGW1 locus can be used for improving sorghum grain yield through marker-assisted selection.

Structure of shock waves in partially ionized argon

The paper presents a unified picture of the structure of steady one-dimensional shock waves in partially ionized argon in the absence of external electric and magnetic fields. The study is based on a two-temperature three-fluid continuum approach using the Navier-Stokes equations as a model and taking account of nonequilibrium ionization. The analysis of the governing equations is based on the method of matched asymptotic expansions and leads to three layers: (1) a broad thermal layer dominated by electron thermal conduction; (2) an atom-ion shock structured by heavy-particle collisional dissipative mechanisms; and (3) an ionization relaxation layer in which electron-atom inelastic collisions dominate.

Electron temperature distribution across a shock wave in a partially ionized gas

The electron temperature structure in a weakly ionized plasma is studied allowing the degree of ionization to vary across the shock wave. The values of the electron temperature and the downstream equilibrium temperature obtained with variable ionization are less than those for frozen ionization. The electron temperature rises sharply behind the shock for variable ionization while a gradual increase is predicted by frozen ionization.

Electron energy equation for an atomic radiating plasma

The electron-energy equation for an atomic radiating plasma is considered in this work. Using the atomic model of Bates, Kingston and McWhirter, the radiation loss-term valid for all optical thicknesses is obtained. A study of the energy gained by electrons in inelastic collisions shows that the radiation loss term can be neglected only for rapidly-decaying or fast-growing plasmas. Emission from optically thin plasmas is considered next and an exact expression is given for the total radiation loss in a recombination continuum. A derivation of the Kramers-Unsöld approximation is presented and the error involved in estimating the total emitted recombination radiation by this approximation is shown to be small.

Performance analysis of a suprathreshold, stochastic resonance based nonlinear detector

In this paper we introduce a nonlinear detector based on the phenomenon of suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR). We first present a model (an array of 1-bit quantizers) that demonstrates the SSR phenomenon. We then use this as a pre-processor to the conventional matched filter. We employ the Neyman-Pearson(NP) detection strategy and compare the performances of the matched filter, the SSR-based detector and the optimal detector. Although the proposed detector is non-optimal, for non-Gaussian noises with heavy tails (leptokurtic) it shows better performance than the matched filter. In situations where the noise is known to be leptokurtic without the availability of the exact knowledge of its distribution, the proposed detector turns out to be a better choice than the matched filter.

A suprathreshold stochastic resonance based pre-processor for direction-of-arrival estimation

In this paper we propose a nonlinear preprocessor for enhancing the performance of processors used for direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation in heavy-tailed non-Gaussian noise. The preprocessor based on the phenomenon of suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR), provides SNR gain. The preprocessed data is used for DOA estimation by the MUSIC algorithm. Simulation results are presented to show that the SSR preprocessor provides a significant improvement in the performance of MUSIC in heavy-tailed noise at low SNR.

Design and performance analysis of a signal detector based on suprathreshold stochastic resonance

This paper presents the design and performance analysis of a detector based on suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR) for the detection of deterministic signals in heavy-tailed non-Gaussian noise. The detector consists of a matched filter preceded by an SSR system which acts as a preprocessor. The SSR system is composed of an array of 2-level quantizers with independent and identically distributed (i.i.d) noise added to the input of each quantizer. The standard deviation sigma of quantizer noise is chosen to maximize the detection probability for a given false alarm probability. In the case of a weak signal, the optimum sigma also minimizes the mean-square difference between the output of the quantizer array and the output of the nonlinear transformation of the locally optimum detector. The optimum sigma depends only on the probability density functions (pdfs) of input noise and quantizer noise for weak signals, and also on the signal amplitude and the false alarm probability for non-weak signals. Improvement in detector performance stems primarily from quantization and to a lesser extent from the optimization of quantizer noise. For most input noise pdfs, the performance of the SSR detector is very close to that of the optimum detector. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and tensile properties of consolidated magnesium chips

In this study tensile properties of consolidated magnesium chips obtained from solid state re-cycling (SSR) has been examined and correlated with the microstructure. Chips machined from as-cast billet of pure magnesium were consolidated through SSR technique, comprising of compaction at ambient conditions followed by hot extrusion at four different temperatures viz., 250, 300, 350 and 400 degrees C. The extruded rods were characterized for microstructure and their room temperature tensile properties. Both ultimate tensile strength and 0.2% proof stress of these consolidated materials are higher by 15-35% compared to reference material (as cast and extruded). Further these materials obey Hall-Petch relation with respect to strength dependence of grain size. Strain hardening behavior, measured in terms of hardening exponent, hardening capacity and hardening rate was found to be distinctly different in chip consolidated material compared to reference material. Strength asymmetry, measured as a ratio of compressive proof stress to tensile proof stress was higher in chip consolidated material. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seasonal, horizontal, and vertical distribution of phytoplankton chlorophyll a in the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf Ecosystem

The broad scale features in the horizontal, vertical, and seasonal distribution of phytoplankton chlorophyll a on the northeast U.S. continental shelf are described based on 57,088 measurements made during 78 oceanographic surveys from 1977 through 1988. Highest mean water column chlorophyll concentration (Chlw,) is usually observed in nearshore areas adjacent to the mouths of the estuaries in the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB), over the shallow water on Georges Bank, and a small area sampled along the southeast edge of Nantucket Shoals. Lowest Chlw «0.125 ug l-1) is usually restricted to the most seaward stations sampled along the shelf-break and the central deep waters in the Gulf of Maine. There is at least a twofold seasonal variation in phytoplankton biomass in all areas, with highest phytoplankton concentrations (m3) and highest integrated standing stocks (m2) occurring during the winter-spring (WS) bloom, and the lowest during summer, when vertical density stratification is maximal. In most regions, a secondary phytoplankton biomass pulse is evident during convective destratification in fall, usually in October. Fall bloom in some areas of Georges Bank approaches the magnitude of the WS-bloom, but Georges Bank and Middle Atlantic Bight fall blooms are clearly subordinate to WS-blooms. Measurements of chlorophyll in two size-fractions of the phytoplankton, netplankton (>20 um) and nanoplankton «20 um), revealed that the smaller nanoplankton are responsible for most of the phytoplankton biomass on the northeast U.S. shelf. Netplankton tend to be more abundant in nearshore areas of the MAB and shallow water on Georges Bank, where chlorophyll a is usually high; nanoplankton dominate deeper water at the shelf-break and deep water in the Gulf of Maine, where Chlw is usually low. As a general rule, the percent of phytoplankton in the netplankton size-fraction increases with increasing depth below surface and decreases proceeding offshore. There are distinct seasonal and regional patterns in the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a and percent netplankton, as revealed in composite vertical profiles of chlorophyll a constructed for 11 layers of the water column. Subsurface chlorophyll a maxima are ubiquitous during summer in stratified water. Chlorophyll a in the subsurface maximum layer is generally 2-8 times the concentration in the overlying and underlying water and approaches 50 to 75% of the levels observed in surface water during WS-bloom. The distribution of the ratio of the subsurface maximum chlorophyll a to surface chlorophyll a (SSR) during summer parallels the shelfwide pattern for stability, indexed as the difference in density (sigma-t) between 40 m and surface (stability 40. The weakest stability and lowest SSR's are found in shallow tidally-mixed water on Georges Bank; the greatest stability and highest SSR's (8-12:1) are along the mid and outer MAB shelf, over the winter residual water known as the "cold band." On Georges Bank, the distribution of SSR and the stability40 are roughly congruent with the pattern for maximum surface tidal current velocity, with values above 50 cms-1 defining SSR's less than 2:1 and the well-mixed area. Physical factors (bathymetry, vertical mixing by strong tidal currents, and seasonal and regional differences in the intensity and duration of vertical stratification) appear to explain much of the variability in phytoplankton chlorophyll a throughout this ecosystem. (PDF file contains 126 pages.)

Investigations of certain eco-physiological characteristics of the broad and long-pincered crayfish in connection with their interspecific relationships. [Translation from: Lietuvas TSR Mokslu Akademijos Darbai, C Serija 2(40), 279-286, 1966.]

The results are described of eco-physiological investigations of the broad-pincered (Astacus astacus L.J.) crayfish and the long-pincered (Astacus astacus Esch.) crayfish, conducted in 1963—64 in the Institute of Zoology and Parasitology of the Academy of Science of the Lithuanian SSR, for the purpose of studying the interspecific relationship of these two species. In the course of the investigation were determined: the influence of the temperature of the environment on the consumption of oxygen by full grown individuals of both species and on the respiratory movements of the scaphognathites, the threshold temperatures and the saturation of the water by oxygen, the diel activity in the winter period.

Approval of systems of Biological Indication of Water Quality under the auspices of the Severn-Trent Water Authority, UK

In accordance with the plan for joint Anglo-Soviet scientific and technical collaboration on environmental problems, the comparative evaluation of systems of hydrobiological analysis of the surface water quality started in 1977 at the Regional Laboratory of the Severn-Trent Water Authority in Nottingham were continued in the spring of 1978. The investigations were carried out under the auspices of the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. Hydrobiological and hydrochemical samples were collected by Soviet and British specialists from the Kiev reservoir and the rivers Dnieper, Sozh, Desna and Snov. The possible approved methods to be adopted were evaluated from the samples using the phytoperiphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton and zoobenthos against a background of hydrochemical characteristics.

薄膜内杂质分布的分形特征

薄膜中总会存在一些杂质或者缺陷，杂质和缺陷密度的有限性导致了薄膜破坏的概率性。提出了不同尺寸杂质和缺陷分布的分形特征，分析了薄膜破坏概率与辐照激光功率密度的关系，计算结果与实验结果吻合得很好。得到了一种确定薄膜中最具危害性杂质的热学特性及分布密度的方法。同时提出了杂质的敏感尺寸范围（SSR）的概念，由此得到材料激光损伤阈值的新的确定表达式，该表达式反映的损伤阈值与激光脉宽的关系更加符合实验结果。

我国煤核中的种子和大羽羊齿的初步研究

本论文为申请理学博士学位论文。文章以种子（胚珠）为线索，详细描述8种不同类型的种子。其中之一与叶，叶轴和含有原位花粉的花粉器官连接，因此作为整体化石植物描述。 七种脱落的种子分属不同的器官属。其中，五种是新发现的，它们是;—个新属种一太原类紫杉（Parataxospermum taiyuanense gen.et sp.now.);二个新种—小肥籽（pachytesta parva sp.nov)和小柄肉籽（Ssr-cospermum petiolulatum sp.nov.);一个比较种—瘦冠籽（Stephanospemum cf. akenioides);一个未定种—双籽（Diplotesta ap.)。此外，订正了二个种—薄角籽（Cornucarpus tenucupsis(Halle))和小心籽（Cardiocarpus(?)minor(wang)) 同其它器官连接的种子，作为整体植物定命为，原始隐羽羊齿（新属、种）（Cryptogigantonoclea primitivagen．et sp．nov．）并根据其叶和叶脉类型该属归到大羽羊齿目(Gigantonomiales (= Gigantopterjdaies)。 根据描述，文章对上述各种植物的分类和系统发育分别进行了讨论。在这些讨论中作者祥细地阐述了分类的依据，评价了各种有关的系统发育的观点•并提出了一些新的见解。 为了深入地进行研究，作者改进了一些旧的研究手段，采用了某些新的研究方法．其中包括：1)利用计算机技术进行三维重建，复原了原始隐羽羊齿的小羽片和大部分种子的形态，此外还有少数种子的内部结构也被复原：2）用分支系统分析和图论方法对肥籽属的系统发育进行了重新，探讨：3)把扫描电镜和光学显微镜结合起来观察大孢子膜和花粉的结构，过去这些结构通常需要采用的超薄切片和透射电镜才能观察;4)改用无毒溶剂进行快速撕片，以避免损害人体;5)初步探索了一套制作定厚连续切片的方法。此外，文章还就大羽羊齿的系统位置，种子的分类，华夏植物群和其它植物群的比较，以及某些新技术的优劣进行了讨论。论文原文为英文，全文约合36万印刷符号，附有四十幅图版。 此外还有三个附录： 1)插图8幅;2）表9个.3)同图论分析有关的计算公式，原始数据和许算机计算结果。为了得到连续的三雏形象，还有一组由计算机复原的隐羊齿种子的连续旋转图象。本节译由英文翻译而成，但有些部分按中文习惯作了增删。

稻属的分子系统学研究

稻属（Oryza L）属于禾本科的稻族，主要分布于世界的热带和亚热带地区。一般认为稻属包括20个左右的野生种和2个栽培种，我国有4-5种。迄今为止，对于稻属中种的数目和划分;稻属中所包括的种类是否为一单系类群;各基因组之闻的关系和起源以及稻属的起源等等，学术界仍然存有争议。本文评述了稻属分子系统学研究的进展，研究中存在的问题以及对未来稻属系统学研究的展望。针对稻属的分子系统学研究中所存在的问题，运用核糖体DNA转录间隔区序列测定、随机扩增多态性DNA（RAD）和SSR-anchoredPCR等分子生物学的手段对稻属中全部23个种的来自中国和世界不同地区的材料开展了分子系统学的研究。所得主要结果如下： 1．对产于中国的三种野生稻和栽培稻的二个亚种的核糖体DNA第一转录间隔区进行了序列测定。 DNA序列分别用PAUP程序进行分支分析和用MEGA程序中的UPGMA和Neighbor-joining进行聚类分析，结果表明核糖体DNA转录间隔区序列适合于进行稻属的分子系统学研究。 2．用荧光自动测序法和人工同位素测序法测定了稻属23个种和4个外类群的转录间隔区的序列。所有的DNA序列用Clustal V程序排阵后，再用PAUP程序进行分支分析。结果表明： A．稻属中的23个种组成四个主要分支，分别相当于Vaughan(1989)的四个种复合体。 B．所有AA基因组的种都在一个分支中。除了O.meridionalis与其它种的关系相对较远外，AA基因组种间有一定程度的分化，但不大。 C．尽管BB、BBCC、CC、CCDD和EE基因组的种都在一个分支中，但它们之间的分化是较为明显的。O.australiensis与该分支中的其它种的关系相对较远。以上两个分支的关系较为密切，它们组成一个自然类群，是稻属的核心部分。 D．O.ridleyi与O.longiglumis非常近缘，它们组成一个分支。 E．O.meyeriana与O．granulata有非常密切的关系。O.brachyantha与O.meyeriana近缘，而与AA基因组的关系较远。O,schlechter/与Leersia hexandra近缘，而与稻属中其它种的关系较远。作为外类群的Porteresia coarctata与稻属的a brachyantha非常近缘，这有可能说明将它作稻属中的一员的观点是正确的。 3．用RAPD和ISSR技术对稻属23介种的36份材料以及Porteresia coar ctata和Leersia hexandra各1份材料进行PCR扩增。16个10-mer RAPD随机引物共扩增出368个多态条带，5个锚定SSR引物共扩增出1 16个多态条带。RAPD和ISSR扩增出的多态条带合在同一数据矩阵中，用NTSYS-pc程序进行聚类分析。得出的结果与ITS序列分支分析的结果相似。 A.从表征图上亦可区分出四个群。所有的AA基因组的种聚在一起，O.nivara与O.rufipogon的关系密切，两个种的界限不清楚，所以认为它们是一个种：O.rufipogon.。 B.分布于中国的O.officinalis与O.minuta非常近缘，而菲律宾的四倍体O.officinalis则与同是基因组的O.eichingeri和O.rhizomatis关系密切。EE基因组的O.australiensis与Officinalis群保持一种松散的联系。 C。具FF基因组的O.brachyantha与O.schlechteri近缘，它们与Porteresiacoarctata和Leersia hexandra关系的密切程度要大于它们与稻属其它种的关系。 D。最后讨论了RAPD和ISSR用予植物属内的系统发育研究存在的问题。本研究结果说明RAPD和ISSR适合于进行属内近缘种亲缘关系的研究。

药用野生稻复合体（稻属）的分子系统发育与进化研究

稻属（Oryza L.）隶属于禾本科（Gramineae）Ehrhartoideae亚科的稻族（Oryzeae），包括两个栽培种（亚洲栽培稻O. sativa和非洲栽培稻O. glaberrima）和大约20多个野生种，广布于热带亚洲、非洲、大洋洲、中美洲和南美洲。药用野生稻复合体（O. officinalis complex）是稻属中最大、也是最复杂的一个复合体，共包括9个种，含有5种染色体组类型（B、C、BC、CD 和E）。作为栽培稻品质改良的重要基因库，药用野生稻复合体在稻属中具有重要的地位。但是，相似的形态和重叠的地理分布使部分物种的分类和鉴定一直较为困难;种内染色体组构成和倍性的不同更增加了分类鉴定的复杂性。这种情况阻碍了对这些野生稻遗传优势的有效利用。另外，由于物种间断分布和缺乏明确的二倍体亲本等原因，药用野生稻复合体内的异源多倍体起源一直存在争议。本文通过细胞核乙醇脱氢酶基因（Adh）和nrDNA的内转录间隔区（ITS）限制性片段长度多态性（RFLP）分析;叶绿体matK 基因、trnL 内含子和trnL-trnF 基因间隔区、核基因Adh和GPA1以及核糖体DNA ITS片段等序列比较的方法，对药用野生稻复合体中染色体组和物种的鉴定、种间系统发育关系，以及异源多倍体CCDD物种的起源和多倍体ITS的分子进化等进行了研究。主要研究结果如下： 1． 利用核Adh 基因限制性片段长度多态性，检测了来自国际水稻研究所基因库的64份药用野生稻复合体的样品。结果证明，所有O. rhizomatis样品都是含C染色体组的二倍体，所有O. minuta样品都是含BC 染色体组的四倍体。但是，种子库中鉴定为O. officinalis、O. punctata和O. eichingeri的样品中，同时都发现了含C染色体组的二倍体和含BC染色体组的四倍体。四倍体的O. officinalis只在印度分布，而且曾被描述为另一个种O. malampuzhaensis。 四倍体的O. punctata，也被一些学者称为O. schweinfurthiana，被发现和其二倍体一样分布广泛。值得注意的是，有两个曾被作为O. officinalis 四倍体的样品实际上是含有CD染色体组的物种O. latifolia。我们的结果增进了对国际水稻研究所种子库中部分野生稻样品染色体组构成的理解, 纠正了以往对药用野生稻复合体样品的错误鉴定，为今后进一步研究和利用这部分资源提供了种质编目的重要基础。 2． 对稻属中代表不同地理分布区的、含CD染色体组的11个样品（包括77个克隆）的ITS片段进行了测序。基于这些ITS序列的限制性片段长度多态性，提出一个快速而可靠的区分稻属CD 染色体组物种的方法。这个方法的具体步骤是：（1）利用通用引物扩增ITS 片段;（2）利用限制性内切酶FokI和/或DraⅢ消化PCR扩增产物;（3）用1%的琼脂糖胶电泳并根据消化产物的片段长度多态性来区分不同物种。 3． 利用包括两个叶绿体片段（matK和 trnL-trnF）、nrDNA内转录间隔区（ITS）和三个核基因（Adh1、Adh2和GPA1）的同源序列分析，探讨了药用野生稻复合体中二倍体物种和它们所代表的染色体组之间的系统发育关系。独立和合并的基因系统发育树都显示了一致的结果，即C染色体组和B染色体组的亲缘关系要比它们和E染色体组的近。三个含C染色体组的二倍体中，O. officinalis 和O. rhizomatis表现出较近的亲缘关系。值得注意的是，在O. eichingeri种内，尽管基于多基因的数据支持来自斯里兰卡的样品和来自非洲的样品聚成一个分支，但是较低的支持率表明, 两个地区的样品之间存在着较高的遗传分化。 4． 稻属中含CD染色体组的物种特产于拉丁美洲，包括O. alta、 O. grandiglumis 和O. latifolia。由于具有相同的染色体组类型、相似的形态特征和重叠的地理分布，这3个物种间的系统发育关系一直存在争论。另外，因为美洲大陆上没有含C和D染色体组的二倍体物种存在，对这些含CD染色体组物种的可能起源也有不同的假设被提出。使这个问题更具挑战性的是，尽管开展了世界范围的收集，至今仍没有找到含D 染色体组的二倍体物种。在本研究中，代表含C、CD和E染色体组以及含G染色体组的外类群共7个物种，共15份样品的2个叶绿体片段（matK和trnL-trnF）和3个核基因（Adh1，Adh2 和 GPA1）部分片段被测序。基于简约法、距离法和最大似然法的系统发育分析都充分支持含CD染色体组的物种起源于一次杂交事件的推论，并且显示，在物种形成时，含C染色体组的物种（O. officinalis 或O. rhizomatis 而非O. eichingeri）可能承担了母本，而含E染色体组的物种（O. australiensis）则可能承担了父本。另外，CCDD物种间非常一致的系统发育关系表明，非常大的分歧存在于 O. latifolia 和其它两个种（O. alta和O. grandiglumis）之间，这个结果倾向于将后两个种处理为同种或同种下不同分类群。 5． 基于178个克隆序列比较，探讨了ITS在稻属多倍体中的致同进化及其系统学意义。研究发现稻属异源四倍体的ITS存在不同形式的进化方式：首先，非洲BBCC四倍体O. eichingeri和O. punctata 的ITS片段同时保留了双亲拷贝，而且系统发育研究表明，二倍体的O. eichingeri和O. punctata 可能是这两个四倍体的直接祖先;其次，亚洲四倍体O. malampuzhaensis和O. minuta 的ITS仅定向保留母本ITS拷贝;另外，美洲CCDD四倍体的ITS序列发生了双向致同进化，即O. alta和O. grandiglumis的ITS位点一致化成C染色体组类型，而O. latifolia一致化成 D/E 染色体组类型。我们的研究进一步表明在利用ITS片段进行系统发育分析时，特别是涉及异源多倍体时必须慎重。 6． 利用栽培稻的微卫星引物，对含B/C染色体组的6个物种，157个体的SSR位点进行扩增。结果在这些亲缘关系稍远的野生稻中得到7个SSR位点，其中5个位点表现出多态性。比较BB、CC和BBCC物种SSR位点的每位点平均等位基因数A、多态位点百分率P和期望杂合度He ，3项指标发现，四倍体物种的遗传多样性，总体上要高于二倍体物种;二倍体物种内部，O. officnalis的遗传变异最大。另外，以遗传相关性为标准，讨论了B/C染色体组物种间的系统发育关系，同时推测了现存二倍体物种和4个BBCC四倍体物种的遗传关系。