Structural And Functional Analysis of CCT Family Genes In Pigeonpea

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp) is a short-day plant in which the flowering is highly sensitive to photoperiod. A better understanding of the genes modulating photoresponse and flowering time is critical to developing photoperiod insensitive pigeonpea cultivars for cultivation across the seasons. We identified 33 CCT family genes (CcCCT1- CcCCT33) in C. cajan and localized them on 10 chromosomes and nine genomic scaffolds. The structural analysis of CCT family genes revealed a considerable variation in length and distribution of exons and introns. Based on the type of domain(s), we classified the CCT family genes into CCT motif family (CMF) type, CONSTANS like (COL) type, Pseudo-response Regulator (PRR) type, and GATA and tifi containing CCT (GTCC) type. The CCT family genes of C. cajan exhibited an extensive orthologous relationship with the CCT family genes of other legume species. We also observed significant sharing of CCT family genes among the legume species. Glycine max exhibited the maximum sharing of CCT family genes with C. cajan. The analysis of CCT family proteins-based phylogenic relationships revealed a general congruence with the legumes' taxonomic relationships. The expression analysis of CCT family genes of pigeonpea demonstrated that CcCCT4 and CcCCT23 are the active CONSTANS (CO) in ICP20338. In contrast, only CcCCT23 is active in MAL3, explaining the differential response of ICP20338 and MAL3 to photoperiod. The chromosomes of C. cajan contain a variable number of CCT family genes. A majority of these genes are localized in the centromeric regions. The COL type CCT genes are structurally highly diverse and contain a variable number of B-box domains. The CCT family genes of different legume species exhibit all three kinds of relationships: one-to-one, many-to-one, and many-to-many types. The photoperiod insensitive cultivar ICP20338 contains CcCCT4 and CcCCT23, while the photoperiod sensitive cultivar MAL3 contains only CcCCT23 as active CONSTANS (CO), which may be the plausible reason for their differential photoperiod response.

The Disappearance of Coal Seams Recorded in Associated Gangue Rocks in the SW Part of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland

Coal seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin vanish within the Carboniferous Upper Silesian Sandstone Series and below an unconformity marking the Carboniferous top surface. Changes in the geochemical, mineralogical, petrological and palynological characteristics of gangue rocks associated with the vanished seams record what happened. The observed changes could have been caused by (1) coal-seam paleofire, (2) peat combustion, (3) igneous intrusion, (4) metasomatism and/or (5) weathering. Multifaceted research on samples collected at the Jas-Mos mining area, a part of the operating Jastrzębie-Bzie Coal Mine that are representative of different geological settings in the northern and southern parts of the mining area, point to intra-deposit paleofire as the most plausible reason for the disappearance. Biomarkers enabled recognition of differences in heating duration and oxygen access. Coal seams in the south burned quickly with abundant oxygen supply. Seams in the north pyrolyzed for an extended time under conditions of limited oxygen. Though other methods used proved less sensitive, all confirmed low (100–150 °C) paleotemperature heating. Overall, the reason for the local disappearance of the coal seams, making their exploitation difficult and unprofitable, can be assigned to a variety of different processes in a complex overlapping history of variable weathering, heating due to local endogenic fires and, probably, earlier peat combustion.

Modelling the impact of travel restrictions on COVID-19 cases in Newfoundland and Labrador

In many jurisdictions, public health authorities have implemented travel restrictions to reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread. Policies that restrict travel within countries have been implemented, but the impact of these restrictions is not well known. On 4 May 2020, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) implemented travel restrictions such that non-residents required exemptions to enter the province. We fit a stochastic epidemic model to data describing the number of active COVID-19 cases in NL from 14 March to 26 June. We predicted possible outbreaks over nine weeks, with and without the travel restrictions, and for contact rates 40–70% of pre-pandemic levels. Our results suggest that the travel restrictions reduced the mean number of clinical COVID-19 cases in NL by 92%. Furthermore, without the travel restrictions there is a substantial risk of very large outbreaks. Using epidemic modelling, we show how the NL COVID-19 outbreak could have unfolded had the travel restrictions not been implemented. Both physical distancing and travel restrictions affect the local dynamics of the epidemic. Our modelling shows that the travel restrictions are a plausible reason for the few reported COVID-19 cases in NL after 4 May.

Anchoring Effects: Resolving the Contradictions of Personality Moderator Research

Anchoring effects, that is, the attraction of numerical judgments toward a previously considered number, are among the most robust findings in social psychology. At the same time, explaining the effect and its nuances such as moderator effects has not yet been accomplished despite numerous different models of anchoring. During the past decade, personality moderators of anchoring effects have gained attention and replications of findings beyond the classical anchoring effects have been conducted. I summarize the state of personality moderator research on anchoring effects. I systematizing the eight most thoroughly investigated personality traits (Big Five, cognitive ability, cognitive reflection, and self-control) into three broad paths (exploratory, based on theories of judgment and decision making, and based on anchoring theories). Meta-analyses for each of the potential moderators revealed that there is currently no evidence of any personality moderator of anchoring. The most plausible reason for the absence of personality moderators is that individuals’ susceptibility to anchoring cannot be measured reliably. I discuss possible solutions, such as parameters derived from the anchoring and adjustment model. German Summary Ankereffekte (der Einfluss einer in Erwägung gezogenen Zahl auf nachfolgende numerische Schätzungen) gehören zu den robustesten Befunden der Sozialpsychologie. Gleichzeitig ist es bis jetzt trotz vieler Ankermodelle nicht gelungen, das Phänomen mit seinen Nuancen und Moderatoren zu erklären. Während der letzten 13 Jahre lag der Fokus der Forschung zu Ankereffekten auf den Zusammenhang zwischen der Anfälligkeit für Ankereffekte und Persönlichkeitseigenschaften. Ich fasse den Stand dieser Forschung systematisch zusammen, indem ich die acht am stärksten untersuchten Persönlichkeitseigenschaften (Big Five, Intelligenz, kognitive Reflexion, und Selbstkontrolle) in drei Forschungsprogramme (exploratorische Forschung, Forschung basierend auf Modellen des Entscheidens und Urteilen, und Forschung basierend auf Ankermodellen) zusammenfasse. Meta-Analysen für alle acht Moderatoren ergaben, dass keiner von ihnen einen mit der Anfälligkeit für Ankereffekte zusammenhängt. Der dafür plausibelste Grund ist, dass die Anfälligkeit für Ankereffekt nicht reliabel gemessen werden kann. Ich diskutiere verschiedene Lösungen für dieses Reliabilitätsproblem, wie zum Beispiel die theoriebasierte Herleitung neuer Parameter.

Self-assembly of artificial sweetener aspartame adversely affects phospholipid membranes: plausible reason for its deleterious effects

Cytotoxic fibrillar aggregates of the artificial sweetener aspartame (ASP) disorganize a DMPC lipid membrane and reduce the membrane's intrinsic rigidity.

Modelling the impact of travel restrictions on COVID-19 cases in Newfoundland and Labrador

In many jurisdictions, public health authorities have implemented travel restrictions to reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread. Policies that restrict travel within countries have been implemented, but the impact of these restrictions is not well known. On May 4th, 2020, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) implemented travel restrictions such that non-residents were required to have exemptions to enter the province. We fit a stochastic epidemic model to data describing the number of active COVID-19 cases in NL from March 14th – May 4th. We then predicted possible outbreaks over 9 weeks, with and without the travel restrictions, and for contact rates 40% to 70% of pre-pandemic levels. Our results suggest that the travel restrictions reduced the mean number of clinical COVID-19 cases in NL by 92%. Furthermore, without the travel restrictions there is a substantial risk of very large outbreaks. Using epidemic modelling, we show how the NL COVID-19 outbreak could have unfolded had the travel restrictions not been implemented. Both physical distancing and travel restrictions affect the local dynamics of the epidemic. Our modelling shows that the travel restrictions are a plausible reason for the few reported COVID-19 cases in NL after May 4th.

Why do we iron clothes? Tracking its origins based on a sanitary hypothesis

While the task of ironing clothes is generally disliked and seen as a waste of energy, people continue ironing. There are no serious groups or movements against ironing, as it is a behaviour engraved in the collective mind. In this study, we consider it a cultural behaviour that is performed due to an underlying, historical reason that is yet unknown. The aim of this study, however, is to provide a historically appropriate reason for this task. A meta-analysis based on internet searches showed that people primarily iron clothes for aesthetic reasons, which is a non-satisfactory explanation. Some people, however, provided a hygiene-based motive. Based on this probable origin for the act of ironing, a historical review was conducted based on the premise of ironing to disinfect clothes. Some patents were found that dated back to the middle of the 19th century, so ironing had already been established to remove wrinkles at this time. Other clinical reports and recommendations suggested that ironing not only kills lice and nits on the clothes, it also disinfects them from the causative organisms of epidemic typhus and other louse-borne diseases. Thus, the use of ironing in early times, (i.e., before the invention of chemicals, such as pyrethroids, or in situations when there was a lack of water to boil the clothes, like war) demonstrates that hygiene is a plausible reason to explain the dissemination of this behaviour.

COVID-19 Impacts on Beaches and Coastal Water Pollution: Management Proposals Post-pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has obliged Governments all around the world to take confinement and social 13 distancing measures. The reduction of leisure and production activities on beaches and ports have 14 disappeared direct and indirect contamination such as plastics, hydrocarbon spill, microbiological loads, 15 noise level, etc. leading to temporary improved environmental conditions, converting the beaches 16 similar to Marine Protected Areas. Some conditions are briefly analyzed through local surveys and in situ 17 observations in the popular beaches and ports of Salinas, Manta and Galápagos. 97-99 % of surveyed 18 people agreed that beaches have notoriously improved during confinement at least from visual 19 observation. On a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), the beaches were rated 2.23 and 2.83 (less than 20 acceptable) before quarantine, and 4.48 and 4.33 after it for Salinas and Manta respectively. The 21 beaches have less garbage in general and plastic, even though there has been an increase in plastic and 22 face mask production around the world. In Salinas, 72%, and 23 % of surveyed people have seen small 23 pelagic fish, whilst in Manta 75%, and 41% of people saw the same, but also 17% of people have seen 24 whales (humpback and shark-whales) and dolphins practically swimming on the beach. Manta rays, 25 turtles, and other types of species were also observed. In Galapagos beaches, turtles have been 26 observed many more times than usual. The main plausible reason is the decrease in noise level. It is 27 recommended to take this unique opportunity, to construct a baseline data and information on physical, 28 chemical, biological, microbiological coastal oceanographic science, and from them to establish a proper 29 Coastal Zone Management based on beach description, water, and beach quality, human dimension, 30 and economic value indexes. This data and information construction should ideally be done before the 31 beaches are open.

Improved Average Estimation in Seemingly Unrelated Regressions

In this paper, we propose an efficient weighted average estimator in Seemingly Unrelated Regressions. This average estimator shrinks a generalized least squares (GLS) estimator towards a restricted GLS estimator, where the restrictions represent possible parameter homogeneity specifications. The shrinkage weight is inversely proportional to a weighted quadratic loss function. The approximate bias and second moment matrix of the average estimator using the large-sample approximations are provided. We give the conditions under which the average estimator dominates the GLS estimator on the basis of their mean squared errors. We illustrate our estimator by applying it to a cost system for United States (U.S.) Commercial banks, over the period from 2000 to 2018. Our results indicate that on average most of the banks have been operating under increasing returns to scale. We find that over the recent years, scale economies are a plausible reason for the growth in average size of banks and the tendency toward increasing scale is likely to continue

Raja-Karjalan ortodoksien nimenvalinta ja ristimänimivalikoima 1890–1914

Suomen ortodoksikarjalaisilla oli autonomian aikana venäläiset ristimänimet. Artikkelissa tarkastellaan ortodoksista nimenantoa ja Raja-Karjalassa vuosina 1800–1914 ortodoksilapsille annettuja ristimänimiä, sekä niiden määrää että sitä, mitkä nimet ovat olleet tavallisia ja mitkä harvinaisia. Aineisto on koottu internetissä olevasta Karjala-tietokannasta. Tutkimuskohteena on kaksi keskisuurta rajakarjalaista kylää, Korpiselän Ägläjärvi ja Suojärven Kaitajärvi. Ortodoksien perinteisen nimenannon todetaan usein perustuneen ortodoksiseen kalenteriin. Koska lapselle on annettu tämän syntymäpäivänä tai sen lähellä olevan pyhän nimi, ortodokseilla ei ole voinut olla esimerkiksi suvussa periytyviä nimiä. Ortodoksista nimivalikoimaa on pidetty suppeana ja nimenantoa kaavamaisena. Toistaiseksi kumpaakaan ei ole kuitenkaan Suomessa tutkittu, eikä ole ollut tietoa siitä, mitä ristimänimiä rajakarjalaisilla on ollut. Tulokset osoittavat, että tutkituissa kylissä tavallisimmat naisten nimet 1890- ja 1910-luvuilla olivat Anna ja Maria; miesten nimistä tavallisin oli Ivan (Joann, Ioann). Kaikkien kolmen ristimänimen suosio perustunee siihen, että ortodoksisessa kirkkokalenterissa on useita Anna-, Maria- ja Johannes-(Ivan-)nimisiä pyhiä. Mainituissa kylissä erilaisia naisten nimiä oli 1910-luvulla annettu 34–41 ja miesten nimiä 59. Eri ristimänimien määrä oli tuolloin hieman suurempi kuin vuonna 1890. Sekä vuonna 1890 että vuonna 1910 noin kahdella kolmasosalla Kaitajärven miespuolisista asukkaista oli sellainen nimi, joka oli kylässä vain yhdellä tai kahdella henkilöllä. Erityisesti miesten nimivalikoima on siis ollut varsin laaja. Artikkelissa selvitetään myös nimenvalinnan ja ortodoksisen kalenterin suhdetta tarkastelemalla, milloin tiettyjä nimiä on annettu. Tietyn nimen saaneiden lasten syntymäkuukausien vertailu nimen muistopäiviin (esim. Olga) osoittaa, että nimen-annossa on enimmäkseen noudatettu kirkkokalenteria, mutta Suojärven seura-kunnassa nimenantoperinnettä on noudatettu uskollisemmin kuin Korpiselän seurakunnassa. Selection and repertory of given names among the Orthodox population in Border Karelia in 1890–1914 During the 19th century, the Orthodox Karelians in Finland had Russian Christian names. This article examines Orthodox naming conventions and the Christian names given in Border Karelia during the period 1890–1914. This includes an analysis of the total number of different names in use and identification of particularly prevalent and rare names. The material is collected from the Karjala database available online. The focus is on two middle-sized villages, Ägläjärvi in Korpiselkä and Kaitajärvi in Suojärvi. It is often said that the Orthodox naming convention is based on the Orthodox calendar of saints. Due to the tradition of naming a child after the saint associated with the day he or she was born, the Orthodox do not have inherited Christian names. In general, the repertory of Orthodox names has been considered narrow and the naming convention rigid. There is no previous research on Orthodox Karelian naming conventions in Finland. The results show that the most common Christian names given to girls in the villages in focus in the 1890s and 1910s were Anna and Maria. The most common name given to boys was Ivan (Joann, Ioann). A plausible reason for the popularity of these three names is the fact that there are several saints in the Orthodox calendar named Anna, Maria and Johannes (Ivan). In the 1910s there were 34–41 different women’s names and 59 men’s names in use in these villages. The number of distinct names was slightly larger than in the 1890s. In Kaitajärvi, two thirds of men and boys had a unique name (with only one or two bearers) both in 1890 and 1910. The repertory of men’s names has traditionally been rather broad. By assessing the relation of Orthodox naming conventions and the Orthodox calendar of saints, the article clarifies annual trends in the popularity of names. The comparison of the dates of birth of children given certain names and the commemoration days of their respective saints (e.g. Olga) reveals that the naming convention largely followed the calendar of saints. In the Suojärvi parish, the traditional naming convention was more faithfully adhered to than in the Korpiselkä parish.