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1. Variation in thermotolerance of photosystem II energy trapping, intersystem electron transport, and photosystem I electron acceptor reduction for diverse cotton genotypes

   Kaur, N; Snider, J; Paterson, A; Grey, T; Virk, G; Parkash, V (June 2023, Plant physiology and biochemistry)

   Cotton breeding programs have focused on agronomically-desirable traits. Without targeted selection for tolerance to high temperature extremes, cotton will likely be more vulnerable to environment-induced yield loss. Recently-developed methods that couple chlorophyll fluorescence induction measurements with temperature response experiments could be used to identify genotypic variation in photosynthetic thermotolerance of specific photosynthetic processes for field-grown plants. It was hypothesized that diverse cotton genotypes would differ significantly in photosynthetic thermotolerance, specific thylakoid processes would exhibit differential sensitivities to high temperature, and that the most heat tolerant process would exhibit substantial genotypic variation in thermotolerance plasticity. A two-year field experiment was conducted at Tifton and Athens, Georgia, USA. Experiments included 10 genotypes in 2020 and 11 in 2021. Photosynthetic thermotolerance for field-collected leaf samples was assessed by determining the high temperature threshold resulting in a 15% decline in photosynthetic efficiency (T15) for energy trapping by photosystem II (ΦPo), intersystem electron transport (ΦEo), and photosystem I end electron acceptor reduction (ΦRo). Significant genotypic variation in photosynthetic thermotolerance was observed, but the response was dependent on location and photosynthetic parameter assessed. ΦEo was substantially more heat sensitive than ΦPo or ΦRo. Significant genotypic variation in thermotolerance plasticity of ΦEo was also observed. Identifying the weakest link in photosynthetic tolerance to high temperature will facilitate future selection efforts by focusing on the most heat-susceptible processes. Given the genotypic differences in environmental plasticity observed here, future research should evaluate genotypic variation in acclimation potential in controlled environments. 

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2. Measurements of F ₁ ‐ Region Ionosphere State Variables at Arecibo Through Quasi Height‐Independent Exhaustive Fittings of the Incoherent Scatter Ion‐Line Spectra

   https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JA032620  

   Li, Yanlin; Zhou, Qihou (November 2024, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics)

   Abstract We discuss an exhaustive search approach to fit the incoherent scatter spectrum (ISS) in the F₁‐region for molecular ion fraction (f_m), ion temperature (T_i), and electron temperature (T_e). The commonly used “full profile” approach for F₁‐region measurements parameterizes the molecular ion fraction as a function of altitude and fits all the related heights for the state variables. In our approach, we fit the ISS at each height forf_m,T_i,T_e, and ion velocity (V_i) independently. Our exhaustive search method finds all the major local minima at each altitude. Although a parameterized function is used to guide the algorithm in finding the best solution, the fitting parameters retain their local characteristics. Despite that fittingf_m,T_i, andT_ewithout constraints requires Doppler shift to be accurately determined and the ISS signal‐to‐noise ratio higher than the full‐profile method, simulations show thatT_i,T_e, andf_mcan be recovered within a few percent accuracy with a moderate signal‐to‐noise ratio. We apply the exhaustive search approach to the Arecibo high‐resolution incoherent scatter radar data taken on 13 September 2014. The derived ion and electron temperatures are sensitive enough to reveal thermosphere gravity waves commonly seen in the electron density previously. Our method is more robust than previous height‐independent fitting methods. Comparison with another Arecibo program indicates our results are likely more accurate. Simultaneous high‐resolution measurements ofT_i,T_e,f_m,V_i, and electron concentration (N_e) in our approach open new opportunities for synergistic studies of the F₁‐region dynamics and chemistry. 

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3. Using the rapid A‐C _i response (RACiR) in the Li‐Cor 6400 to measure developmental gradients of photosynthetic capacity in poplar

   https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13436  

   Lawrence, Erica H.; Stinziano, Joseph R.; Hanson, David T. (October 2018, Plant, Cell & Environment)

   Abstract The rapid A‐C_iresponse (RACiR) technique alleviates limitations of measuring photosynthetic capacity by reducing the time needed to determine the maximum carboxylation rate (V_cmax) and electron transport rate (J_max) in leaves. Photosynthetic capacity and its relationships with leaf development are important for understanding ecological and agricultural productivity; however, our current understanding is incomplete. Here, we show that RACiR can be used in previous generation gas exchange systems (i.e., the LI‐6400) and apply this method to rapidly investigate developmental gradients of photosynthetic capacity in poplar. We compared RACiR‐determined V_cmaxand J_maxas well as respiration and stomatal conductance (g_s) across four stages of leaf expansion inPopulus deltoidesand the poplar hybrid 717‐1B4 (Populus tremula × Populus alba). These physiological data were paired with leaf traits including nitrogen concentration, chlorophyll concentrations, and specific leaf area. Several traits displayed developmental trends that differed between the poplar species, demonstrating the utility of RACiR approaches to rapidly generate accurate measures of photosynthetic capacity. By using both new and old machines, we have shown how more investigators will be able to incorporate measurements of important photosynthetic traits in future studies and further our understanding of relationships between development and leaf‐level physiology. 

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4. The Turndown of the Baryonic Tully–Fisher Relation and Changing Baryon Fraction at Low Galaxy Masses

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac9285  

   McQuinn, Kristen. B.; Adams, Elizabeth A.; Cannon, John M.; Fuson, Jackson; Skillman, Evan D.; Brooks, Alyson; Rhode, Katherine L.; Haynes, Martha P.; Inoue, John L.; Marine, Joshua; et al (November 2022, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract The ratio of baryonic-to-dark matter in present-day galaxies constrains galaxy formation theories and can be determined empirically via the baryonic Tully–Fisher relation (BTFR), which compares a galaxy’s baryonic mass ( M bary ) to its maximum rotation velocity ( V max ). The BTFR is well determined at M bary > 10 8 M ⊙ , but poorly constrained at lower masses due to small samples and the challenges of measuring rotation velocities in this regime. For 25 galaxies with high-quality data and M bary ≲ 10 8 M ⊙ , we estimate M bary from infrared and H i observations and V max from the H i gas rotation. Many of the V max values are lower limits because the velocities are still rising at the edge of the detected H i disks ( R max ); consequently, most of our sample has lower velocities than expected from extrapolations of the BTFR at higher masses. To estimate V max , we map each galaxy to a dark matter halo assuming density profiles with and without cores. In contrast to noncored profiles, we find the cored profile rotation curves are still rising at R max values, similar to the data. When we compare the V max values derived from the cored density profiles to our M bary measurements, we find a turndown of the BTFR at low masses that is consistent with Λ cold dark matter predictions and implies baryon fractions of 1%–10% of the cosmic value. Although we are limited by the sample size and assumptions inherent in mapping measured rotational velocities to theoretical rotation curves, our results suggest that galaxy formation efficiency drops at masses below M bary ∼ 10 8 M ⊙ , corresponding to M 200 ∼ 10 10 M ⊙ . 

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5. New germanate and mixed cobalt germanate salt inclusion materials: [(Rb ₆ F)(Rb ₄ F)][Ge ₁₄ O ₃₂ ] and [(Rb ₆ F)(Rb _3.1 Co _0.9 F _0.96 )][Co _3.8 Ge _10.2 O ₃₀ F ₂ ]

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CE01099E  

   Carone, Darren; Usman, Mohammad; Klepov, Vladislav V.; Smith, Mark D.; Kocevski, Vancho; Besmann, Theodore M.; zur Loye, Hans-Conrad (December 2020, CrystEngComm)

   null (Ed.)

   Single crystals of two new germanates, [(Rb 6 F)(Rb 4 F)][Ge 14 O 32 ] and [(Rb 6 F)(Rb 3.1 Co 0.9 F 0.96 )][Co 3.8 Ge 10.2 O 30 F 2 ], were synthesized via high temperature RbCl/RbF flux growth. Both compounds crystallize in the cubic space group F 4̄3 m and possess the germanium framework of the previously reported salt inclusion material (SIM), [(Cs 6 F)(Cs 3 AgF)][Ge 14 O 32 ], related to the Ge 7 O 16 zeolitic family. These materials demonstrate the ability to accommodate a variety of salt-inclusions, and exhibit chemical flexibility enabling modifications of the framework through incorporation of Co. Alteration of the salt-inclusion led to intrinsic luminescence of [(Rb 6 F)(Rb 4 F)][Ge 14 O 32 ] while modification of the framework resulted in an unanticipated Rb/Co salt/inclusion in [(Rb 6 F)(Rb 3.1 Co 0.9 F 0.96 )][Co 3.8 Ge 10.2 O 30 F 2 ]. Fluorescence measurements were performed on [(Rb 6 F)(Rb 4 F)][Ge 14 O 32 ]. First-principles calculations in the form of density functional theory (DFT) were performed for [(Rb 6 F)(Rb 3.1 Co 0.9 F 0.96 )][Co 3.8 Ge 10.2 O 30 F 2 ] to elucidate its electronic and magnetic properties, and stability at 0 K. 

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