Analyzing the distribution of researchers in China: An approach using multiscale geographically weighted regression

We employ a Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model to examine the spatial variation of researchers in China in 2015 and its determinants. It is found that the distribution of researchers is driven by the economy in urban centers, public services, natural areas of recreation, urban consumption, and work‐related facilities. Results from the MGWR model conclusively identify significant spatial non‐stationarity in the determinants measuring scientific researchers' distribution. Other factors such as per capita GDP, the number of hospital beds per 10,000 inhabitants, and public financial expenditures influence the distribution of researchers more in the Western cities, and their effect decreases steadily from West to East. Air pollutants affect researchers negatively in the eastern part of the country, while the percentage of available green land is a strong driver in the central and western parts. The factor measuring the effect of the number of universities is seen to affect researchers more strongly in the northwestern and northeastern cities. Other findings further suggest that the economy and public services in cities have a consistent effect on the distribution of researchers across the country whereas, natural areas of recreation, work‐related facilities, and urban consumption have a significantly varying effect across cities.     

Genomic affinities between Brassica napus and Raphanus raphanistrum as revealed by meiotic GISH

An intergeneric hybrid between Brassica napus (AC, n = 19) and Raphanus raphanistrum (Rr, n = 9) was developed using the sequential ovary–ovule culture. Morphological, molecular, cytological studies and fluorescent genomic in situ hybridization were conducted to establish the hybridity and genomic relatedness. F₁ hybrid plants were male sterile and morphologically intermediate between the two parents. Cytological analysis of the hybrid plants revealed 10II + 8I as the predominant meiotic configuration with the mean bivalent frequency of 8.83. A maximum of 13II were observed in 8.24% of the pollen mother cells (PMCs). GISH studies facilitated the identification of two allopairs, confirming homoeologous pairing between A/C and Rr genomes. This may have significant implications in terms of transgene flow and possible introgression into R. raphanistrum, which is a common canola weed in Canada and Australia. The intergeneric hybrid B. napus × R. raphanistrum so produced also has the potential to be used as a bridging species for the transfer of desirable genes to amphiploid crop Brassica species carrying A/C genomes.