PROBLEM Operators of roof bolting machines in underground coal mines do so in confined spaces and in very close proximity to the moving equipment. Errors in the operation of these machines can have serious consequences, and the design of the equipment interface has a critical role in reducing the probability of such errors. METHODS An experiment was conducted to explore coding and directional...

To understand the population genetics of structural variants and their effects on phenotypes, we developed an approach to mapping structural variants that segregate in a population sequenced at low coverage. We avoid calling structural variants directly. Instead, the evidence for a potential structural variant at a locus is indicated by variation in the counts of short-reads that map anomalousl...

Life cycle adaptation to latitudinal and seasonal variation in photoperiod and temperature is a major determinant of evolutionary success in flowering plants. Whereas the life cycle of the dicotyledonous model species Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by two epistatic genes, FLOWERING LOCUS C and FRIGIDA, three unrelated loci (VERNALIZATION) determine the spring and winter habits of monocotyle...

Phenological traits often show variation within and among natural populations of annual plants. Nevertheless, the adaptive value of post-anthesis traits is seldom tested. In this study, we estimated the adaptive values of pre- and post-anthesis traits in two stressful environments (water stress and interspecific competition), using the selfing annual species Arabidopsis thaliana. By estimating ...

A mutant of Arabidopsis with reduced internodal cell length, acaulis5 (acl5), has recently been shown to have reduced transcript levels of a gene for endoxyloglucan transferase, EXGT-A1 (Y. Hanzawa, T. Takahashi, Y. Komeda [1997] Plant J 12: 863-874). In the present study, we cloned genomic fragments of five members of the EXGT gene family, EXGT-A1, EXGT-A3, EXGT-A4, XTR2, and XTR3, and examine...

ii Declaration This dissertation is the result of my own work and does not include any work that is the outcome of collaboration. No part of this dissertation has been submitted at Cambridge or any other University for a degree, diploma or other qualification. The total length of this dissertation is 13150 words. Acknowledgements The author would like to thank the following: Professor Bhadeshia...

In order to secure a specified preload level, suitability tests for preloading of HV and HR high-strength structural bolting assemblies according EN 14399-4 14399-3 are mandatory the specifications given in 14399-2. However, 14399-2 ISO 16047 actual working conditions processes on construction site disregarded: influences high low temperatures as well storage under changing wet/dry conditions, ...