Photoluminescence and piezoelectric behaviour of Y2Zr2O7 pyrochlore‐based multifunctional materials and the influence of Eu3+ and Sm3+

Y₂Zr₂O₇‐doped with Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ phosphors were prepared for the first time as multifunctional smart materials using a solid‐state reaction method at 1400^oC. Thermal behaviour, crystal structure, surface morphology, and elemental analysis were characterized using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal (DTA) analyses, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDX). Experimental results revealed that both phosphors have a pyrochlore structure with a cubic crystal system. Photoluminescence properties were also measured and red emission was observed from Y_1.90Eu_0.10Zr₂O₇ and Y_1.90Sm_0.10Zr₂O₇ phosphors. Dielectric constant, loss tangent, piezoelectric charge constant, and Curie temperature of all the samples were determined using an LCR‐meter, d₃₃‐meter, and TG/DTA. Eu doping in Y₂Zr₂O₇ resulted in a high dielectric constant (9.61) and low loss tangent (1.67%) values, whereas high piezoelectric charge constant (0.68 pC/N) and high Curie temperature (820°C) could be obtained using Sm‐doped Y₂Zr₂O₇.     

The relationship between the presence of ADHD and certain candidate gene polymorphisms in a Turkish sample

Due to the high heritability of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), parents of children with ADHD appear to represent a good sample group for investigating the genetics of the disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ADHD and six polymorphisms in five candidate genes [5-HT2A (rs6311), NET1 (rs2242447), COMT (rs4818), NTF3 (rs6332), SNAP-25 (rs3746544) and (rs1051312)]. We included 228 parents of children diagnosed with ADHD and 109 healthy parents as the control group. The polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays and analyzed using the chi-square test and the multinomial logit model. SNAP-25 (rs3746544) polymorphism was associated with loading for ADHD, while 5-HT2A (rs6311) and NET1 (rs2242447) polymorphisms were associated with ADHD. On the other hand, there was no significant association between the SNAP-25 (rs1051312), NTF3 (rs6332), or COMT (rs4818) gene polymorphisms and ADHD.     

Variable-Selection Emerges on Top in Empirical Comparison of Whole-Genome Complex-Trait Prediction Methods

Accurate prediction of complex traits based on whole-genome data is a computational problem of paramount importance, particularly to plant and animal breeders. However, the number of genetic markers is typically orders of magnitude larger than the number of samples (p >> n), amongst other challenges. We assessed the effectiveness of a diverse set of state-of-the-art methods on publicly accessible real data. The most surprising finding was that approaches with feature selection performed better than others on average, in contrast to the expectation in the community that variable selection is mostly ineffective, i.e. that it does not improve accuracy of prediction, in spite of p >> n. We observed superior performance despite a somewhat simplistic approach to variable selection, possibly suggesting an inherent robustness. This bodes well in general since the variable selection methods usually improve interpretability without loss of prediction power. Apart from identifying a set of benchmark data sets (including one simulated data), we also discuss the performance analysis for each data set in terms of the input characteristics.     

Explosive evolution of an ancient group of Cyphophthalmi (Arachnida: Opiliones) in the Balkan Peninsula

Aim  To investigate the phylogeny of the genus Cyphophthalmus in the Balkan Peninsula and to test the current recognition of 'phyletic lines' and phylogenetic groups proposed in previous studies in order to elucidate the biogeographical history of the region.
Location  Europe, Balkan Peninsula, Adria microplate.
Methods  Two mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA) and two nuclear (28S rRNA and 18S rRNA) markers were used to infer the phylogenetic history of the group. Molecular dating with relaxed molecular clocks was used to elucidate the relative time of diversification within the genus Cyphophthalmus and its constituent lineages.
Results  Our analyses confirm the monophyly of the genus Cyphophthalmus , and that of the Aegean and gjorgjevici lineages, whereas the 'Dinaric lineage' appears paraphyletic.
Main conclusions  We show that the genus Cyphophthalmus is an old endemic from the Balkan biogeographical region, which gave origin to at least three main lineages. Those lineages have diversified within overlapping ranges. According to our molecular dating, they have also diversified within the same timeframe. The Dinaric Alps, although presenting a large number of species, cannot be inferred as the centre of origin of the group. Instead, the biogeographical evolution of the genus could be related to the palaeogeographic history of the Adria microplate.     

Astragalus trifoliastrum (Fabaceae), a revived species for the flora of Turkey

As the result of surveying the relevant type specimens, together with macro‐ and micro‐morphological studies, chromosome counting and ITS sequencing, Astragalus trifoliastrum was found to be a species independent of A. laguriformis (with which it has peviously been synonymized). In contrast, A. wanensis, assumed to be a synonym of A. trifoliastrum, indeed appears to be identical with A. trifoliastrum. The diploid chromosome number of 2n = 16 is reported for the first time for A. trifoliastrum.     

Chemosystematics in the Opiliones (Arachnida): a comment on the evolutionary history of alkylphenols and benzoquinones in the scent gland secretions of Laniatores

Large prosomal scent glands constitute a major synapomorphic character of the arachnid order Opiliones. These glands produce a variety of chemicals very specific to opilionid taxa of different taxonomic levels, and thus represent a model system to investigate the evolutionary traits in exocrine secretion chemistry across a phylogenetically old group of animals. The chemically best‐studied opilionid group is certainly Laniatores, and currently available chemical data allow first hypotheses linking the phylogeny of this group to the evolution of major chemical classes of secretion chemistry. Such hypotheses are essential to decide upon a best‐fitting explanation of the distribution of scent‐gland secretion compounds across extant laniatorean taxa, and hence represent a key toward a well‐founded opilionid chemosystematics.     

Modification of the erythrocyte membrane lipids in rats under conditions of alimentary stress

Erythrocyte phospholipids and lipid fatty acid composition was investigated at different stages of exposure to high-caloric diet in male Wistar rats. The revealed modification of erythrocyte lipids shows specific features of membrane response to stress factors of alimentary nature, in particular, cell protection compensatory mechanism initiation on the 90th day and their depletion by the 180th day of high-caloric diet.     

A rare case of monosomy 18p: translocation between chromosomes 18 and 21

A rare case of monosomy 18p with molecular cytogenetic characterization of 18;21 whole arm translocation is presented. An 8-year-old gril with mental deficiency and growth deficiency was the child of a 45-year-old healthy mother and 50-year-old nonconsanguineous father with unremarkable prenatal history. She had a round face, flat nasal bridge, micrognathia and hypotonia. Cytogenetic studies revealed de novo 45,XX,del(18)t(18;21) karyotype, which was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).     

Klippel-Feil syndrome and Dandy-Walker malformation

The Klippel-Feil deformity is a complex of osseous and visceral anomalies, which include low hairline, platybasia, fused cervical vertebrae with a short neck, and deafness. Associated central nervous system abnormalities include occipital cephalocele, Chiari I malformation, syrinx, microcephaly, and hydrocephalus. Herein, we report a case with Klippel-Feil syndrome and Dandy-Walker malformation.