38,714 research outputs found
Can genomics boost productivity of orphan crops?
No full textRajeev K Varshney, Jean-Marcel Ribaut, Edward S Buckler, Roberto Tuberosa, J Antoni Rafalski & Peter Langridg
Cereal Genomics: Excitements, challenges and opportunities
No full textCereals constitute the most important food crops of the world, occupying ~680 million hectares of land and producing ~2,295 million tonnes of food grain globally (October 4, 2012; http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/wfs-home/csdb/en/), even though this production is lower than that for the year 2011 (2,340 million tonne
Cereal Genomics II
No full textDuring the last decades, major advances have been made in the field of cereal genomics. For instance, high-density genetic maps, physical maps, QTL maps and even draft genome sequence have become available for several cereal species. This has been facilitated by the development of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, so that, it is now possible to sequence genomes of hundreds or thousands of accessions of an individual cereal crop. Significant amounts of data generated using these latest NGS technologies created a demand for computational tools to analyse this massive data. These developments related to technology and the tools, along with their applications not only to plant and genome biology but also to breeding have been documented in this volume. The volume, entitled “Cereal Genomics II”, therefore supplements the earlier edited volume “Cereal Genomics” published in 2004. The new volume has updated chapters, from the leading authorities in their fields, on molecular markers, next generation sequencing platform and their use for QTL analysis, domestication studies, functional genomics and molecular breeding. In addition, there are also chapters on computational genomics, whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics of cereals. The book should prove useful to students, teachers and young research workers as a ready reference to the latest information on cereal genomics
Cereal Genomics
No full textCereals make an important component of daily diet of a major section of human population, so that their survival mainly depends on the cereal grain production, which should match the burgeoning human population. Due to painstaking efforts of plant breeders and geneticists, at the global level, cereal production in the past witnessed a steady growth. However, the cereal production in the past has been achieved through the use of high yielding varieties, which have a heavy demand of inputs in the form of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides/pesticides, leading to environmental degradation. In view of this, while increasing cereal production, one also needs to keep in mind that agronomic practices used for realizing high productivity do not adversely affect the environment. Improvement in cereal production in the past was also achieved through the use of alien genetic variation available in the wild relatives of these cereals, so that conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources is another important area, which is currently receiving the attention of plant breeders. The work leading to increased cereal production in the past received strong support from basic research on understanding the cereal genomes, which need to be manipulated to yield more from low inputs without any adverse effects as above. Through these basic studies, it also became fairly apparent that the genomes of all cereals are related and were derived from the same lineage, million of years ago
Distributed Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks under Multiplicative Fading via Generalized Score Tests
No full textIn this article, we address the problem of distributed detection of a noncooperative (unknown emitted signal) target with a wireless sensor network. When the target is present, sensors observe a (unknown) deterministic signal with attenuation depending on the unknown distance between the sensor and the target, multiplicative fading, and additive Gaussian noise. To model energy-constrained operations within Internet of Things, one-bit sensor measurement quantization is employed and two strategies for quantization are investigated. The fusion center receives sensor bits via noisy binary symmetric channels and provides a more accurate global inference. Such a model leads to a test with nuisances (i.e., the target position ) observable only under hypothesis. Davies' framework is exploited herein to design the generalized forms of Rao and locally optimum detection (LOD) tests. For our generalized Rao and LOD approaches, a heuristic approach for threshold optimization is also proposed. The simulation results confirm the promising performance of our proposed approaches
Sensor Fusion for Video Surveillance
No full textIn this paper, a multisensor data fusion system for object tracking is presented. It is able to track in real-time multiple targets in outdoor environments. The system can take advantage of the redundant information coming from different sensors monitoring the same scene. The measurements (positions of the targets) obtained from the available sources are fused together to obtain a more accurate estimate. Data fusion is performed considering sensor reliability at every time instant. A confidence measure has been employed to weight sensor data in the fusion process. Compared to single camera systems, the adopted approach has produced more accurate and continuous trajectories, reducing calibration and segmentation errors
Paratachardina mithila Varshney
No full text<i>Paratachardina mithila</i> Varshney <p> <i>Paratachardina mithila</i> Varshney, 1968: 489; 1977: 58.</p> <p> <i>Paratachardina mithilae</i> Varshney, 1997: 30. Incorrect subsequent spelling [see 'Notes'].</p> <p> <b>Type data. Holotype,</b> adult female. <b>INDIA: Assam,</b> Shillong, in the gardens of Ward Lake, coll. R. K. Varshney, i.1967, on <i>Photinia notoniana</i> var. <i>macrophylla</i>. <b>Paratypes:</b> same data as holotype except some specimens coll. vi.1967 or viii.1970 (NZSI). [Types not seen; see 'Notes'.]</p> <p>Adult female</p> <p> The following descriptions of unmounted and mounted material are adapted from Varshney (1977). <b>Unmounted material.</b> Lac test of adult female almost round, brownish black, with three small openings on top for brachial and anal orifices; with 16 conspicuous longitudinal ridges that divide the test into sectors; a circular spot on the middle of each ridge, probably corresponding to marginal duct cluster openings.</p> <p> <b>Mounted material.</b> Body trilobed, 2.5–3.0 mm long, 2.8–3.0 mm wide. Brachia short, 103 µm long. Each brachial plate oval, distal half slightly larger, each 68–120 µm long, 51–70 µm wide; pseudospines totalling 44–50, occupying about two-thirds area of brachial plate center, with gaps on upper large portion. Anterior spiracles each 137 µm long, 86 µm wide, situated far away from brachial plates, spiracular pores with 5- loculi. Dorsal spine small, conical, 68–70 µm long, with a hollow, not pointed tip; membranous pedicel of dorsal spine well developed, 70–103 um long and 70–103 µm wide. Anal tubercle well developed, 86–170 µm long, 120–140 µm wide; supra-anal plate subequal or slightly longer than its maximum width. Anal ring not divided in sectors; supra-anal plate forming a cup-shaped cavity. Anal fringe of few acute lobes, with narrow and deep clefts. Anal ring setae just reach, or slightly protrude past anal fringe. Antennae minute and obscure. Marginal duct clusters in 8 pairs, each roughly round, poorly demarcated, with ducts arranged irregularly. Ventral duct clusters present.</p> <p> <b>Notes.</b> Subsequent to his original description, Varshney (1997) listed the species name as " mithilae " rather than " mithila ", without giving an explanation for his action. Varshney's (1968, 1977) descriptions do not specify the etymology of the name " mithila ", and do not indicate whether it should be regarded as a noun or an adjective. According to the Article 31.2.2 of the <i>International Code of Zoological Nomenclature</i> (ICZN 1999), the name “ mithila ” becomes a noun in apposition and should be retained as " mithila ". Even though Varshney (personal communication) emended " mithila " to " mithilae " because the species was named after a woman, articles 31, 32 and 33 of the ICZN (1999) make it clear that such an alteration to the species name is an incorrect subsequent spelling, as recognised by Ben-Dov (2006).</p> <p> According to Varshney (1977), this species is similar to <i>P. t h e a e</i>, from which it can be separated due to its larger adult female size, anal tubercle subequal in length and width, and pedicel of the dorsal spine not much longer than the length of the spine itself. Type material of <i>P. mithila</i> was not available in the present study, as we did not receive a reply to our request for a loan from the NZSI, and no type material or non-type topotypic specimens could be located in any other museum. Varshney (1977) gave a key to separate <i>P. mithila</i> and <i>P.</i></p> <p> <i>theae</i> as follows (Varshney 1977: 56, key couplet number 4):</p> <p> – Anal tubercle slightly longer than its maximum width; pedicel of dorsal spine as long as spine itself.................................................................................................................................................................... <i>mithila</i> – Anal tubercle distinctly broader than its maximum length; pedicel of dorsal spine much longer than the spine <i>....................................................................................................................................................... theae</i></p> <p> However, Varshney’s (1977) description of <i>P. mithila</i> overlaps with his description of <i>P. t h e a e</i> in the character states used to separate them in the key. The minimum length and width of the anal tubercle of <i>P. mithila</i> given by Varshney’s (1977) description is 86 µm and 120 µm, respectively, in which case, there must be specimens for which the anal tubercle is distinctly broader than its maximum length. On the other hand, the anal tubercle in the syntypes of <i>P. t h e a e</i> herein studied are approximately as long as wide, with some specimens being slightly longer than wide, and others being slightly wider than long. Furthermore, the length of the pedicel of the dorsal spine also varies in <i>P. t h e a e</i> and sometimes is about the same length as the spine. Specimens from China collected on the same host genus as <i>P. m i t h i l a</i>, i.e., on <i>Photinia benthamiana</i>, were available for study (see 'Other material studied' under <i>P. t h e a e</i>), but these could not be separated morphologically from <i>P. t h e a e</i>. Thus adult females of <i>P. mithilae</i> and <i>P. t h e a e</i> appear similar in all features considered and the two species cannot be separated with the available information (see also 'Diagnosis' of <i>P. ternata</i>).</p>Published as part of <i>Kondo, Takumasa & Gullan, Penny J., 2007, Taxonomic review of the lac insect genus Paratachardina Balachowsky (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Kerriidae), with a revised key to genera of Kerriidae and description of two new species, pp. 1-41 in Zootaxa 1617</i> on pages 17-18, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/179122">10.5281/zenodo.179122</a>
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