Genomic Analysis Reveals Subdivision of Black Rats () in India, Origin of the Worldwide Species Spread.

In contrast to the detailed and globally extensive studies on the spread of the commensal black rat, , there has been relatively little work on the phylogeography of the species within India, from where this spread originated. Taking a genomic approach, we typed 27 samples from Peninsular India using the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method. Filtering and alignment of the FASTQ files yielded 1499 genome-wide SNPs.

Engineering of physical properties of spray-deposited nanocrystalline SbO thin films by phase transformation.

Nanostructured SbO thin films have been deposited onto glass substrates by using the chemical spray pyrolysis technique, and the effect of precursor solution volume on the physical properties was investigated for the first time. The prepared films were characterized in detail by using x-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (FESEM-EDAX), UV-vis absorption and transmission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy analysis and electrical resistivity measurement. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the senarmontite cubic phase is completely transferred to the valentinite orthorhombic phase as the precursor solution volume is increased.

Mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed low genetic diversity in the endangered Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur.

The Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur, belonging to ass-like equid branch, inhabits the dry and arid desert of the Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The E. h.