Forensic analysis of hand-written documents using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and chemometrics

With the use of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), fast and semi non-destructive elemental analysis of ball-point pen writings has been performed directly from paper surfaces, aiming to obtain maximum differentiation between pens with a minimum number of pulses.

Concentration effect of polyethylene glycol in evaluation of grain legumes for drought tolerance

The article covers selection of differentiating concentrations of PEG-6000 for assessing genetic resource collections of pea, chickpea and lentil. The germinability of 4 accessions of each crop in 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% PEG-6000 solutions was evaluated. The results showed that 25% PEG-6000 completely inhibited growth processes in all the crops; 5 and 10% PEG-6000 did not affect the germinability of lentil seeds; and the maximum differentiation was observed at an osmotic concentration of 20%. In chickpea, there were no seedlings even in 20% PEG-6000. In 15% PEG-6000, seeds of drought-tolerant accessions UD0500022 and Dnіprovskyi Vysokoroslyi only sprouted; and 5 and 10% solutions had the maximum differentiating effect. Pea germination in PEG-6000 solutions of different concentrations demonstrated that only one accession could germinate in 20 and 15% solutions. Two accessions gave seedlings in 10% PEG-6000, and 5% solution had almost no effect on the germinability of pea seeds.

Intergroup struggles over victimhood in violent conflict

Many groups in violent, intergroup conflict perceive themselves to be the primary or sole victims of that conflict. This often results in contention over who may claim victim status and complicates a central aim of post-conflict processes, which is to acknowledge and address harms experienced by the victims. Drawing from victimology scholarship and intergroup relations theory, this article proposes the victim-perpetrator paradigm as a framework to analyse how, why and to what end groups in conflict construct and maintain their claims to the moral status of victim. This interdisciplinary paradigm builds on the knowledge that groups utilise the ‘ideal victim’ construction to exemplify their own innocence and blamelessness in contrast to the wickedness of the perpetrator, setting the two categories as separate and mutually exclusive even where experiences of violence have been complex. Additionally, this construction provides for a core intergroup need to achieve positive social identity, which groups may enhance by demonstrating a maximum differentiation between the in-group as victims and those out-groups identified as perpetrators. The paradigm contributes greater knowledge on the social processes underpinning victim contention in conflict, as well as how groups legitimise their violence against out-groups during and after conflict.

Reproductive biology of Vaccinium cylindraceum (Ericaceae), an endemic species of the Azores archipelago

The reproductive biology of Vaccinium cylindraceum Smith, an endemic species confined to the islands of the Azores archipelago, was studied in populations from seven islands. Data indicate that the breeding system of the species is facultative xenogamy with spontaneous autogamy playing a minor role in fruit development. Stigma–anther distance was correlated with style length. Species of microlepidoptera were the most frequent floral visitors, and are possibly important pollinator taxa. Variation in flower, fruit, and seed morphology, as well as seed germination was significant among populations from the islands. The time each island has been available for colonization–evolution, as well as bird-assisted colonization of the Azores archipelago through transport of seeds from the South, likely play a role in floral and other characteristics of V. cylindraceum populations. The central group of islands is the centre of maximum differentiation of populations.

Multilocus and Multitrait Measures of Differentiation for Gene Markers and Phenotypic Traits

Multilocus measures of differentiation taking into account gametic disequilibrium are developed. Even if coupling and repulsion heterozygotes cannot be separated at the multilocus level, a method is given to calculate a composite measure of differentiation (CFst) at the zygotic level, which accounts for allelic associations combining both gametic and nongametic effects. Mean and maximum differentiations may be relevant when multilocus measures are computed. Maximum differentiation is the highest eigenvalue of the Fst matrix, whereas mean differentiation corresponds to the mean value of all eigenvalues of the Fst matrix. Gametic disequilibrium has a stronger effect on maximum differentiation than on mean differentiation and takes into account the anisotropy that may exist between within- and between-population components of disequilibria. Multilocus mean and maximum differentiation are calculated for a set of 81 Quercus petraea (sessile oak) populations assessed with eight allozyme loci and two phenotypic traits (bud burst and height growth). The results indicate that maximum differentiation increases as more loci (traits) are considered whereas mean differentiation remains constant or decreases. Phenotypic traits exhibit higher population differentiation than allozymes. The applications and uses of mean and maximum differentiations are further discussed.