Three Macrophomina species (M. phaseolina, M. pseudophaseolina, and M. euphorbiicola) associated with various crops worldwide have been distinguished to date by DNA sequence analysis; however, no ...studies have been conducted to identify Macrophomina species occurring on chickpea in Mexico. The aims of this study were to identify Macrophomina isolates associated with chickpea wilt through the use of species-specific primers, as well as to determine their virulence and mycelial compatibility. During the 2019 growing season, 58 Macrophomina isolates were obtained from symptomatic plants collected from 19 chickpea crops distributed in the states of Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico. The identity of all 58 isolates was determined by PCR using three sets of primers specific to three Macrophomina species (M. phaseolina, M. pseudophaseolina, and M. euphorbiicola). Virulence was determined by inoculating chickpea seedling roots with a mycelial suspension and disease severity was assessed 30 days after inoculation. Molecular detection with species-specific primers indicated that all isolates belong to M. phaseolina, with significant differences found in their virulence. Mycelial compatibility testing showed that there are at least six mycelial compatibility groups of M. phaseolina distributed in chickpea fields in Sinaloa and Sonora. This information will serve as a basis for future studies on the epidemiology and management of the disease caused by M. phaseolina on chickpea in Mexico.
In 2019, the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network (RECON) obtained multiple-chord occultation measurements of two Centaur objects: 2014 YY49 on 2019 January 28 and 2013 NL24 on ...2019 September 4. RECON is a citizen-science telescope network designed to observe high-uncertainty occultations by outer solar system objects. Adopting circular models for the object profiles, we derive a radius km and a geometric albedo for 2014 YY49 and a radius km and a geometric albedo for 2013 NL24. To the precision of these measurements, no atmosphere or rings are detected for either object. The two objects measured here are among the smallest distant objects measured with the stellar occultation technique. In addition to these geometric constraints, the occultation measurements provide astrometric constraints for these two Centaurs at a higher precision than has been feasible by direct imaging. To supplement the occultation results, we also present an analysis of color photometry from the Pan-STARRS surveys to constrain the rotational light curve amplitudes and spectral colors of these two Centaurs. We recommend that future work focus on photometry to more deliberately constrain the objects' colors and light curve amplitudes and on follow-on occultation efforts informed by this astrometry.
We report on the stellar occultation by (523764) 2014 WC510 observed on 2018 December 1 UT. This occultation campaign was part of the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network (RECON), ...a network of small telescopes spread over 2000 km in western USA and Canada. Light curves from six stations revealed three groups of two or more consecutive flux drops correlated in time between adjacent stations. A Bayesian model comparison reveals that a model with a double object occulting a double star is favored over alternative models considered. For the statistically favored model, we determined that the primary component of the object has a diameter dp = 181 16 km and the secondary ds = 138 32 km, assuming identical geometric albedo between the two components. The two components have a projected separation of 349 26 km. Adopting an absolute magnitude for the system of HV = 7.2 from the Minor Planet Center, we derive a geometric albedo of pV = 5.1% 1.7%. This is the smallest resonant object with an occultation size measurement and with a detected secondary from a ground-based stellar occultation, filling a region of the size versus separation parameter space of binary objects that is largely unexplored. The results show the capabilities of the unique design of the RECON experiment sensitive to small objects and close binaries. 2014 WC510 is presently at a low galactic latitude where the high surface density of stars will provide good occultation opportunities in the upcoming years.
Significance Meeting human needs while sustaining ecosystems and the benefits they provide is a global challenge. Coastal marine systems present a particularly important case, given that >50% of the ...world’s population lives within 100 km of the coast and fisheries are the primary source of protein for >1 billion people worldwide. Our integrative analysis here yields an understanding of the sustainability of coupled social-ecological systems that is quite distinct from that provided by either the biophysical or the social sciences alone and that illustrates the feasibility and value of operationalizing the social-ecological systems framework for comparative analyses of coupled systems, particularly in data-poor and developing nation settings.
Environmental governance is more effective when the scales of ecological processes are well matched with the human institutions charged with managing human–environment interactions. The social-ecological systems (SESs) framework provides guidance on how to assess the social and ecological dimensions that contribute to sustainable resource use and management, but rarely if ever has been operationalized for multiple localities in a spatially explicit, quantitative manner. Here, we use the case of small-scale fisheries in Baja California Sur, Mexico, to identify distinct SES regions and test key aspects of coupled SESs theory. Regions that exhibit greater potential for social-ecological sustainability in one dimension do not necessarily exhibit it in others, highlighting the importance of integrative, coupled system analyses when implementing spatial planning and other ecosystem-based strategies.
Abstract
In 2019, the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network (RECON) obtained multiple-chord occultation measurements of two Centaur objects: 2014 YY
49
on 2019 January 28 and 2013 ...NL
24
on 2019 September 4. RECON is a citizen-science telescope network designed to observe high-uncertainty occultations by outer solar system objects. Adopting circular models for the object profiles, we derive a radius
km and a geometric albedo
for 2014 YY
49
and a radius
km and a geometric albedo
for 2013 NL
24
. To the precision of these measurements, no atmosphere or rings are detected for either object. The two objects measured here are among the smallest distant objects measured with the stellar occultation technique. In addition to these geometric constraints, the occultation measurements provide astrometric constraints for these two Centaurs at a higher precision than has been feasible by direct imaging. To supplement the occultation results, we also present an analysis of color photometry from the Pan-STARRS surveys to constrain the rotational light curve amplitudes and spectral colors of these two Centaurs. We recommend that future work focus on photometry to more deliberately constrain the objects’ colors and light curve amplitudes and on follow-on occultation efforts informed by this astrometry.
In 2019, the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network (RECON) obtained multiple-chord occultation measurements of two centaur objects: 2014 YY\(_{49}\) on 2019 January 28 and 2013 ...NL\(_{24}\) on 2019 September 4. RECON is a citizen-science telescope network designed to observe high-uncertainty occultations by outer solar system objects. Adopting circular models for the object profiles, we derive a radius \(r=16^{+2}_{-1}\)km and a geometric albedo \(p_V=0.13^{+0.015}_{-0.024}\) for 2014 YY\(_{49}\), and a radius \(r=66 ^{+5}_{-5}\)km and geometric albedo \(p_V = 0.045^{+0.006}_{-0.008}\) for 2013 NL\(_{24}\). To the precision of these measurements, no atmosphere or rings are detected for either object. The two objects measured here are among the smallest distant objects measured with the stellar occultation technique. In addition to these geometric constraints, the occultation measurements provide astrometric constraints for these two centaurs at a higher precision than has been feasible by direct imaging. To supplement the occultation results, we also present an analysis of color photometry from the Pan-STARRS surveys to constrain the rotational light curve amplitudes and spectral colors of these two centaurs. We recommend that future work focus on photometry to more deliberately constrain the objects' colors and light curve amplitudes, and on follow-on occultation efforts informed by this astrometry.
Key points
At the end of pregnancy, the uterus transitions from a quiescent state to a highly contractile state. This transition requires that the uterine (myometrial) smooth muscle cells increase ...their excitability, although how this occurs is not fully understood.
We identified SLO2.1, a potassium channel previously unknown in uterine smooth muscle, as a potential significant contributor to the electrical excitability of myometrial smooth muscle cells.
We found that activity of the SLO2.1 channel is negatively regulated by oxytocin via Gαq‐protein‐coupled receptor activation of protein kinase C. This results in depolarization of the uterine smooth muscle cells and calcium entry, which may contribute to uterine contraction.
These findings provide novel insights into a previously unknown mechanism by which oxytocin may act to modulate myometrial smooth muscle cell excitability. Our findings also reveal a new potential pharmacological target for modulating uterine excitability.
During pregnancy, the uterus transitions from a quiescent state to a more excitable contractile state. This is considered to be at least partly a result of changes in the myometrial smooth muscle cell (MSMC) resting membrane potential. However, the ion channels controlling the myometrial resting membrane potential and the mechanism of transition to a more excitable state have not been fully clarified. In the present study, we show that the sodium‐activated, high‐conductance, potassium leak channel, SLO2.1, is expressed and active at the resting membrane potential in MSMCs. Additionally, we report that SLO2.1 is inhibited by oxytocin binding to the oxytocin receptor. Inhibition of SLO2.1 leads to membrane depolarization and activation of voltage‐dependent calcium channels, resulting in calcium influx. The results of the present study reveal that oxytocin may modulate MSMC electrical activity by inhibiting SLO2.1 potassium channels.
Key points
At the end of pregnancy, the uterus transitions from a quiescent state to a highly contractile state. This transition requires that the uterine (myometrial) smooth muscle cells increase their excitability, although how this occurs is not fully understood.
We identified SLO2.1, a potassium channel previously unknown in uterine smooth muscle, as a potential significant contributor to the electrical excitability of myometrial smooth muscle cells.
We found that activity of the SLO2.1 channel is negatively regulated by oxytocin via Gαq‐protein‐coupled receptor activation of protein kinase C. This results in depolarization of the uterine smooth muscle cells and calcium entry, which may contribute to uterine contraction.
These findings provide novel insights into a previously unknown mechanism by which oxytocin may act to modulate myometrial smooth muscle cell excitability. Our findings also reveal a new potential pharmacological target for modulating uterine excitability.
Progress with the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been hampered by inconsistent methodologies used to assess treatment effects. A sizable number of trials conducted over the years has ...generated only weak evidence backing current treatment recommendations, as shown by systematic reviews on old-world and new-world CL (OWCL and NWCL).
Using a previously published guidance paper on CL treatment trial methodology as the reference, consensus was sought on key parameters including core eligibility and outcome measures, among OWCL (7 countries, 10 trial sites) and NWCL (7 countries, 11 trial sites) during two separate meetings.
Findings and level of consensus within and between OWCL and NWCL sites are presented and discussed. In addition, CL trial site characteristics and capacities are summarized.
The consensus reached allows standardization of future clinical research across OWCL and NWCL sites. We encourage CL researchers to adopt and adapt as required the proposed parameters and outcomes in their future trials and provide feedback on their experience. The expertise afforded between the two sets of clinical sites provides the basis for a powerful consortium with potential for extensive, standardized assessment of interventions for CL and faster approval of candidate treatments.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•This paper deals with the integrated Open Vehicle Routing Problem with Cross-Docking .•A mixed-integer linear programming model is proposed.•Two constructive heuristics, and a Prioritization ...Lagrangian heuristic are proposed.•A Robust Dynamic Prioritization Lagrangian Heuristic under uncertainties is proposed.•Computational experiments are carried out to test the performance of each method.
Society is facing a series of challenges, as the growth in urban population, the expansion of e-commerce, the pandemic moment (COVID-19), and many others leading to changes in companies’ supply chain, like reducing product delivery time and attention to consumer welfare, the environmental impact, to mention a few. The efficient management of logistic solutions such as cross-docking can contribute to improving the supply chain performance. Here we focus on the integration of scheduling of trucks and routing decisions; the integration of these strategies can significantly reduce costs and help organize the distribution centers and the customers’ services. This article analyzes the integrated problem in which trucks’ scheduling in a cross-docking center with multiple docks is combined with the associated open vehicle routing problem, called Open Vehicle Routing Problem With Cross-Docking (OVRPCD). This approach aims to minimize penalties caused by delays in servicing customers. First, a mixed-integer linear programming model is proposed to solve small instances optimally. Next, two heuristics are proposed to contribute to the solution of the two problems in an integrated way. These heuristics are: the Vehicle Routing Cross-Docking Heuristic (VRCDH) and the Cross-Docking Vehicle Routing Heuristic (CDVRH), each focusing on one of the problems. We also propose a Prioritization Lagrangian Heuristic (PLH) based on a model decomposition to improve the solutions found. These three heuristics are compared, considering two search approaches (i) a constructive version (HC) using the swap heuristic; and (ii) a version using the Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) metaheuristic framework. The VNS-enhanced versions of the heuristics outperform the previous ones. Still, the same relation holds regarding the three heuristics, i.e.: the PLH heuristic outperforms the VRCDH one, while the latter outperforms the CDVRH one. Finally, we propose a polynomial-time framework, called Robust Dynamic Prioritization Lagrangian Heuristic (RDPLH), which extends PLH, considering trucks’ release dates and travel times uncertainties, approximating our problem to a real cross-docking center. The framework’s simplicity and the quality of the results allow us to assert that this approach can be used in real cross-docking centers (CDCs).
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