diff --git a/doc/src/fix_nh.txt b/doc/src/fix_nh.txt
index 1071e1f808..a07d4e7965 100644
--- a/doc/src/fix_nh.txt
+++ b/doc/src/fix_nh.txt
@@ -626,10 +626,10 @@ over time or the atom count becomes very small.
 
 [Default:]
 
-The keyword defaults are tchain = 3, pchain = 3, mtk = yes, tloop =
+The keyword defaults are tchain = 3, pchain = 3, mtk = yes, tloop = 1,
 ploop = 1, nreset = 0, drag = 0.0, dilate = all, couple = none,
-scaleyz = scalexz = scalexy = yes if periodic in 2nd dimension and
-not coupled to barostat, otherwise no.
+flip = yes, scaleyz = scalexz = scalexy = yes if periodic in 2nd
+dimension and not coupled to barostat, otherwise no.
 
 :line
 
diff --git a/doc/src/region.txt b/doc/src/region.txt
index acc85dcebb..e343557b7f 100644
--- a/doc/src/region.txt
+++ b/doc/src/region.txt
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ style = {delete} or {block} or {cone} or {cylinder} or {plane} or {prism} or {sp
     dim = {x} or {y} or {z} = axis of cylinder
     c1,c2 = coords of cylinder axis in other 2 dimensions (distance units)
     radius = cylinder radius (distance units)
-      radius can be a variable (see below)
+      c1,c2, and radius can be a variable (see below)
     lo,hi = bounds of cylinder in dim (distance units)
   {plane} args = px py pz nx ny nz
     px,py,pz = point on the plane (distance units)
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ style = {delete} or {block} or {cone} or {cylinder} or {plane} or {prism} or {sp
   {sphere} args = x y z radius
     x,y,z = center of sphere (distance units)
     radius = radius of sphere (distance units)
-      radius can be a variable (see below)
+      x,y,z, and radius can be a variable (see below)
   {union} args = N reg-ID1 reg-ID2 ...
     N = # of regions to follow, must be 2 or greater
     reg-ID1,reg-ID2, ... = IDs of regions to join together
@@ -179,12 +179,17 @@ The {radius} value for style {sphere} and {cylinder} can be specified
 as an equal-style "variable"_variable.html.  If the value is a
 variable, it should be specified as v_name, where name is the variable
 name.  In this case, the variable will be evaluated each timestep, and
-its value used to determine the radius of the region.
+its value used to determine the radius of the region. For style {sphere}
+also the x-, y-, and z- coordinate of the center of the sphere and for
+style {cylinder} the two center positions c1 and c2 for the location of
+the cylinder axes can be a variable with the same kind of effect and
+requirements than for the radius.
 
 Equal-style variables can specify formulas with various mathematical
 functions, and include "thermo_style"_thermo_style.html command
 keywords for the simulation box parameters and timestep and elapsed
-time.  Thus it is easy to specify a time-dependent radius.
+time.  Thus it is easy to specify a time-dependent radius or have
+a time dependent position of the sphere or cylinder region.
 
 See the "Howto tricilinc"_Howto_triclinic.html doc page for a
 geometric description of triclinic boxes, as defined by LAMMPS, and
diff --git a/src/info.cpp b/src/info.cpp
index 672ce72b74..ec4e3ce9a9 100644
--- a/src/info.cpp
+++ b/src/info.cpp
@@ -262,11 +262,20 @@ void Info::command(int narg, char **arg)
   if (flags & CONFIG) {
     fprintf(out,"\nLAMMPS version: %s / %s\n\n",
             universe->version, universe->num_ver);
+
+    char *infobuf = get_os_info();
+    fprintf(out,"OS information: %s\n\n",infobuf);
+    delete[] infobuf;
+
     fprintf(out,"sizeof(smallint): %3d-bit\n",(int)sizeof(smallint)*8);
     fprintf(out,"sizeof(imageint): %3d-bit\n",(int)sizeof(imageint)*8);
     fprintf(out,"sizeof(tagint):   %3d-bit\n",(int)sizeof(tagint)*8);
     fprintf(out,"sizeof(bigint):   %3d-bit\n",(int)sizeof(bigint)*8);
 
+    infobuf = get_compiler_info();
+    fprintf(out,"\nCompiler: %s\n",infobuf);
+    delete[] infobuf;
+
     fputs("\nActive compile time flags:\n\n",out);
     if (has_gzip_support()) fputs("-DLAMMPS_GZIP\n",out);
     if (has_png_support()) fputs("-DLAMMPS_PNG\n",out);
@@ -274,6 +283,14 @@ void Info::command(int narg, char **arg)
     if (has_ffmpeg_support()) fputs("-DLAMMPS_FFMPEG\n",out);
     if (has_exceptions()) fputs("-DLAMMPS_EXCEPTIONS\n",out);
 
+#if defined(LAMMPS_BIGBIG)
+    fputs("-DLAMMPS_BIGBIG\n",out);
+#elif defined(LAMMPS_SMALLBIG)
+    fputs("-DLAMMPS_SMALLBIG\n",out);
+#else // defined(LAMMPS_SMALLSMALL)
+    fputs("-DLAMMPS_SMALLSMALL\n",out);
+#endif
+
     const char *pkg;
     int ncword, ncline = 0;
 
@@ -288,44 +305,6 @@ void Info::command(int narg, char **arg)
       ncline += ncword + 1;
     }
     fputs("\n",out);
-
-#if defined(_WIN32)
-    DWORD fullversion,majorv,minorv,buildv=0;
-
-    fullversion = GetVersion();
-    majorv = (DWORD) (LOBYTE(LOWORD(fullversion)));
-    minorv = (DWORD) (HIBYTE(LOWORD(fullversion)));
-    if (fullversion < 0x80000000)
-      buildv = (DWORD) (HIWORD(fullversion));
-
-    SYSTEM_INFO si;
-    GetSystemInfo(&si);
-
-    const char *machine;
-    switch (si.wProcessorArchitecture) {
-    case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64:
-      machine = (const char *) "x86_64";
-      break;
-    case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_ARM:
-      machine = (const char *) "arm";
-      break;
-    case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_IA64:
-      machine = (const char *) "ia64";
-      break;
-    case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL:
-      machine = (const char *) "i386";
-      break;
-    default:
-      machine = (const char *) "(unknown)";
-    }
-    fprintf(out,"\nOS information: Windows %d.%d (%d) on %s\n",
-            majorv,minorv,buildv,machine);
-#else
-    struct utsname ut;
-    uname(&ut);
-    fprintf(out,"\nOS information: %s %s on %s\n",
-            ut.sysname, ut.release, ut.machine);
-#endif
   }
 
   if (flags & MEMORY) {
@@ -1103,6 +1082,68 @@ bool Info::has_package(const char * package_name) {
   return false;
 }
 
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+#define _INFOBUF_SIZE 256
+
+char *Info::get_os_info()
+{
+  char *buf = new char[_INFOBUF_SIZE];
+
+#if defined(_WIN32)
+  DWORD fullversion,majorv,minorv,buildv=0;
+
+  fullversion = GetVersion();
+  majorv = (DWORD) (LOBYTE(LOWORD(fullversion)));
+  minorv = (DWORD) (HIBYTE(LOWORD(fullversion)));
+  if (fullversion < 0x80000000)
+    buildv = (DWORD) (HIWORD(fullversion));
+
+  SYSTEM_INFO si;
+  GetSystemInfo(&si);
+
+  const char *machine;
+  switch (si.wProcessorArchitecture) {
+  case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64:
+    machine = (const char *) "x86_64";
+    break;
+  case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_ARM:
+    machine = (const char *) "arm";
+    break;
+  case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_IA64:
+    machine = (const char *) "ia64";
+    break;
+  case PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_INTEL:
+    machine = (const char *) "i386";
+    break;
+  default:
+    machine = (const char *) "(unknown)";
+  }
+  snprintf(buf,_INFOBUF_SIZE,"Windows %d.%d (%d) on %s",
+           majorv,minorv,buildv,machine);
+#else
+  struct utsname ut;
+  uname(&ut);
+  snprintf(buf,_INFOBUF_SIZE,"%s %s on %s",
+           ut.sysname, ut.release, ut.machine);
+#endif
+  return buf;
+}
+
+char *Info::get_compiler_info()
+{
+  char *buf = new char[_INFOBUF_SIZE];
+#if __clang__
+  snprintf(buf,_INFOBUF_SIZE,"Clang C++ %s", __VERSION__);
+#elif __INTEL_COMPILER
+  snprintf(buf,_INFOBUF_SIZE,"Intel C++ %s", __VERSION__);
+#elif __GNUC__
+  snprintf(buf,_INFOBUF_SIZE,"GNU C++ %s",   __VERSION__);
+#else
+  snprintf(buf,_INFOBUF_SIZE,"(Unknown)");
+#endif
+  return buf;
+}
+
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 char **Info::get_variable_names(int &num) {
diff --git a/src/info.h b/src/info.h
index 058400df78..2ad8424393 100644
--- a/src/info.h
+++ b/src/info.h
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ class Info : protected Pointers {
   static bool has_exceptions();
   static bool has_package(const char * package_name);
 
+  static char *get_os_info();
+  static char *get_compiler_info();
+
   char **get_variable_names(int &num);
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/lammps.cpp b/src/lammps.cpp
index 6c5f937c8a..944033264c 100644
--- a/src/lammps.cpp
+++ b/src/lammps.cpp
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ LAMMPS::LAMMPS(int narg, char **arg, MPI_Comm communicator) :
       }
     }
 
-    if (universe->me == 0) {
+    if ((universe->me == 0) && !helpflag) {
       if (screen) fprintf(screen,"LAMMPS (%s)\n",universe->version);
       if (logfile) fprintf(logfile,"LAMMPS (%s)\n",universe->version);
     }
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ LAMMPS::LAMMPS(int narg, char **arg, MPI_Comm communicator) :
 
     // screen and logfile messages for universe and world
 
-    if (universe->me == 0) {
+    if ((universe->me == 0) && (!helpflag)) {
       if (universe->uscreen) {
         fprintf(universe->uscreen,"LAMMPS (%s)\n",universe->version);
         fprintf(universe->uscreen,"Running on %d partitions of processors\n",
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ LAMMPS::LAMMPS(int narg, char **arg, MPI_Comm communicator) :
       }
     }
 
-    if (me == 0) {
+    if ((me == 0) && (!helpflag)) {
       if (screen) {
         fprintf(screen,"LAMMPS (%s)\n",universe->version);
         fprintf(screen,"Processor partition = %d\n",universe->iworld);
@@ -587,16 +587,15 @@ LAMMPS::LAMMPS(int narg, char **arg, MPI_Comm communicator) :
     memory->destroy(plast);
   }
 
-  // allocate top-level classes
-
-  create();
-  post_create();
-
   // if helpflag set, print help and quit with "success" status
+  // otherwise allocate top level classes.
 
   if (helpflag) {
     if (universe->me == 0 && screen) help();
     error->done(0);
+  } else {
+    create();
+    post_create();
   }
 
   // if either restart conversion option was used, invoke 2 commands and quit
@@ -762,26 +761,27 @@ void LAMMPS::post_create()
   // check that KOKKOS package classes were instantiated
   // check that GPU, INTEL, USER-OMP fixes were compiled with LAMMPS
 
-  if (!suffix_enable) return;
+  if (suffix_enable) {
 
-  if (strcmp(suffix,"gpu") == 0 && !modify->check_package("GPU"))
-    error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix gpu without GPU package installed");
-  if (strcmp(suffix,"intel") == 0 && !modify->check_package("INTEL"))
-    error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix intel without USER-INTEL package installed");
-  if (strcmp(suffix,"kk") == 0 &&
-      (kokkos == NULL || kokkos->kokkos_exists == 0))
-    error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix kk without KOKKOS package enabled");
-  if (strcmp(suffix,"omp") == 0 && !modify->check_package("OMP"))
-    error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix omp without USER-OMP package installed");
+    if (strcmp(suffix,"gpu") == 0 && !modify->check_package("GPU"))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix gpu without GPU package installed");
+    if (strcmp(suffix,"intel") == 0 && !modify->check_package("INTEL"))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix intel without USER-INTEL package installed");
+    if (strcmp(suffix,"kk") == 0 &&
+        (kokkos == NULL || kokkos->kokkos_exists == 0))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix kk without KOKKOS package enabled");
+    if (strcmp(suffix,"omp") == 0 && !modify->check_package("OMP"))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Using suffix omp without USER-OMP package installed");
 
-  if (strcmp(suffix,"gpu") == 0) input->one("package gpu 1");
-  if (strcmp(suffix,"intel") == 0) input->one("package intel 1");
-  if (strcmp(suffix,"omp") == 0) input->one("package omp 0");
+    if (strcmp(suffix,"gpu") == 0) input->one("package gpu 1");
+    if (strcmp(suffix,"intel") == 0) input->one("package intel 1");
+    if (strcmp(suffix,"omp") == 0) input->one("package omp 0");
 
-  if (suffix2) {
-    if (strcmp(suffix2,"gpu") == 0) input->one("package gpu 1");
-    if (strcmp(suffix2,"intel") == 0) input->one("package intel 1");
-    if (strcmp(suffix2,"omp") == 0) input->one("package omp 0");
+    if (suffix2) {
+      if (strcmp(suffix2,"gpu") == 0) input->one("package gpu 1");
+      if (strcmp(suffix2,"intel") == 0) input->one("package intel 1");
+      if (strcmp(suffix2,"omp") == 0) input->one("package omp 0");
+    }
   }
 
   // invoke any command-line package commands
@@ -1082,6 +1082,14 @@ void LAMMPS::print_config(FILE *fp)
   const char *pkg;
   int ncword, ncline = 0;
 
+  char *infobuf = Info::get_os_info();
+  fprintf(fp,"OS: %s\n\n",infobuf);
+  delete[] infobuf;
+
+  infobuf = Info::get_compiler_info();
+  fprintf(fp,"Compiler: %s\n\n",infobuf);
+  delete[] infobuf;
+
   fputs("Active compile time flags:\n\n",fp);
   if (Info::has_gzip_support()) fputs("-DLAMMPS_GZIP\n",fp);
   if (Info::has_png_support()) fputs("-DLAMMPS_PNG\n",fp);
diff --git a/src/region_cylinder.cpp b/src/region_cylinder.cpp
index 0b15a3644d..0bc567ff4f 100644
--- a/src/region_cylinder.cpp
+++ b/src/region_cylinder.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ enum{CONSTANT,VARIABLE};
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 RegCylinder::RegCylinder(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
-  Region(lmp, narg, arg), rstr(NULL)
+  Region(lmp, narg, arg), c1str(NULL), c2str(NULL), rstr(NULL)
 {
   options(narg-8,&arg[8]);
 
@@ -44,17 +44,76 @@ RegCylinder::RegCylinder(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
   axis = arg[2][0];
 
   if (axis == 'x') {
-    c1 = yscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
-    c2 = zscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+    if (strstr(arg[3],"v_") == arg[3]) {
+      int n = strlen(arg[3]+2) + 1;
+      c1str = new char[n];
+      strcpy(c1str,arg[3]+2);
+      c1 = 0.0;
+      c1style = VARIABLE;
+      varshape = 1;
+    } else {
+      c1 = yscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
+      c1style = CONSTANT;
+    }
+    if (strstr(arg[4],"v_") == arg[4]) {
+      int n = strlen(arg[4]+2) + 1;
+      c2str = new char[n];
+      strcpy(c2str,arg[4]+2);
+      c2 = 0.0;
+      c2style = VARIABLE;
+      varshape = 1;
+    } else {
+      c2 = zscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+      c2style = CONSTANT;
+    }
   } else if (axis == 'y') {
-    c1 = xscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
-    c2 = zscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+    if (strstr(arg[3],"v_") == arg[3]) {
+      int n = strlen(arg[3]+2) + 1;
+      c1str = new char[n];
+      strcpy(c1str,arg[3]+2);
+      c1 = 0.0;
+      c1style = VARIABLE;
+      varshape = 1;
+    } else {
+      c1 = xscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
+      c1style = CONSTANT;
+    }
+    if (strstr(arg[4],"v_") == arg[4]) {
+      int n = strlen(arg[4]+2) + 1;
+      c2str = new char[n];
+      strcpy(c2str,arg[4]+2);
+      c2 = 0.0;
+      c2style = VARIABLE;
+      varshape = 1;
+    } else {
+      c2 = zscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+      c2style = CONSTANT;
+    }
   } else if (axis == 'z') {
-    c1 = xscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
-    c2 = yscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+    if (strstr(arg[3],"v_") == arg[3]) {
+      int n = strlen(arg[3]+2) + 1;
+      c1str = new char[n];
+      strcpy(c1str,arg[3]+2);
+      c1 = 0.0;
+      c1style = VARIABLE;
+      varshape = 1;
+    } else {
+      c1 = xscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
+      c1style = CONSTANT;
+    }
+    if (strstr(arg[4],"v_") == arg[4]) {
+      int n = strlen(arg[4]+2) + 1;
+      c2str = new char[n];
+      strcpy(c2str,arg[4]+2);
+      c2 = 0.0;
+      c2style = VARIABLE;
+      varshape = 1;
+    } else {
+      c2 = yscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+      c2style = CONSTANT;
+    }
   }
 
-  rstr = NULL;
   if (strstr(arg[5],"v_") == arg[5]) {
     int n = strlen(&arg[5][2]) + 1;
     rstr = new char[n];
@@ -62,8 +121,6 @@ RegCylinder::RegCylinder(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
     radius = 0.0;
     rstyle = VARIABLE;
     varshape = 1;
-    variable_check();
-    shape_update();
   } else {
     radius = force->numeric(FLERR,arg[5]);
     if (axis == 'x') radius *= yscale;
@@ -71,6 +128,11 @@ RegCylinder::RegCylinder(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
     rstyle = CONSTANT;
   }
 
+  if (varshape) {
+    variable_check();
+    shape_update();
+  }
+
   if (strcmp(arg[6],"INF") == 0 || strcmp(arg[6],"EDGE") == 0) {
     if (domain->box_exist == 0)
       error->all(FLERR,"Cannot use region INF or EDGE when box does not exist");
@@ -167,6 +229,8 @@ RegCylinder::RegCylinder(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
 
 RegCylinder::~RegCylinder()
 {
+  delete [] c1str;
+  delete [] c2str;
   delete [] rstr;
   delete [] contact;
 }
@@ -176,7 +240,7 @@ RegCylinder::~RegCylinder()
 void RegCylinder::init()
 {
   Region::init();
-  if (rstr) variable_check();
+  if (varshape) variable_check();
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -667,12 +731,27 @@ int RegCylinder::surface_exterior(double *x, double cutoff)
 
 void RegCylinder::shape_update()
 {
-  radius = input->variable->compute_equal(rvar);
-  if (radius < 0.0)
-    error->one(FLERR,"Variable evaluation in region gave bad value");
-  if (axis == 'x') radius *= xscale;
-  else if (axis == 'y') radius*= yscale;
-  else radius *= zscale;
+  if (c1style == VARIABLE) c1 = input->variable->compute_equal(c1var);
+  if (c2style == VARIABLE) c2 = input->variable->compute_equal(c2var);
+  if (rstyle == VARIABLE) {
+    radius = input->variable->compute_equal(rvar);
+    if (radius < 0.0)
+      error->one(FLERR,"Variable evaluation in region gave bad value");
+  }
+
+  if (axis == 'x') {
+    if (c1style == VARIABLE) c1 *= yscale;
+    if (c2style == VARIABLE) c2 *= zscale;
+    if (rstyle == VARIABLE)  radius *= yscale;
+  } else if (axis == 'y') {
+    if (c1style == VARIABLE) c1 *= xscale;
+    if (c2style == VARIABLE) c2 *= zscale;
+    if (rstyle == VARIABLE)  radius *= xscale;
+  } else { // axis == 'z'
+    if (c1style == VARIABLE) c1 *= xscale;
+    if (c2style == VARIABLE) c2 *= yscale;
+    if (rstyle == VARIABLE)  radius *= xscale;
+  }
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -681,11 +760,29 @@ void RegCylinder::shape_update()
 
 void RegCylinder::variable_check()
 {
-  rvar = input->variable->find(rstr);
-  if (rvar < 0)
-    error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region cylinder does not exist");
-  if (!input->variable->equalstyle(rvar))
-    error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region cylinder is invalid style");
+  if (c1style == VARIABLE) {
+    c1var = input->variable->find(c1str);
+    if (c1var < 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region cylinder does not exist");
+    if (!input->variable->equalstyle(c1var))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region cylinder is invalid style");
+  }
+
+  if (c2style == VARIABLE) {
+    c2var = input->variable->find(c2str);
+    if (c2var < 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region cylinder does not exist");
+    if (!input->variable->equalstyle(c2var))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region cylinder is invalid style");
+  }
+
+  if (rstyle == VARIABLE) {
+    rvar = input->variable->find(rstr);
+    if (rvar < 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region cylinder does not exist");
+    if (!input->variable->equalstyle(rvar))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region cylinder is invalid style");
+  }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/region_cylinder.h b/src/region_cylinder.h
index a6b513b2d7..55b4bf3142 100644
--- a/src/region_cylinder.h
+++ b/src/region_cylinder.h
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@ class RegCylinder : public Region {
   double c1,c2;
   double radius;
   double lo,hi;
+  int c1style,c1var;
+  int c2style,c2var;
   int rstyle,rvar;
-  char *rstr;
+  char *c1str,*c2str,*rstr;
 
   void variable_check();
 
diff --git a/src/region_sphere.cpp b/src/region_sphere.cpp
index 5645b3369d..8080ef5882 100644
--- a/src/region_sphere.cpp
+++ b/src/region_sphere.cpp
@@ -28,15 +28,46 @@ enum{CONSTANT,VARIABLE};
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
 RegSphere::RegSphere(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
-  Region(lmp, narg, arg)
+  Region(lmp, narg, arg), xstr(NULL), ystr(NULL), zstr(NULL), rstr(NULL)
 {
   options(narg-6,&arg[6]);
 
-  xc = xscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[2]);
-  yc = yscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
-  zc = zscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+  if (strstr(arg[2],"v_") == arg[2]) {
+    int n = strlen(arg[2]+2) + 1;
+    xstr = new char[n];
+    strcpy(xstr,arg[2]+2);
+    xc = 0.0;
+    xstyle = VARIABLE;
+    varshape = 1;
+  } else {
+    xc = xscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[2]);
+    xstyle = CONSTANT;
+  }
+
+  if (strstr(arg[3],"v_") == arg[3]) {
+    int n = strlen(arg[3]+2) + 1;
+    ystr = new char[n];
+    strcpy(ystr,arg[3]+2);
+    yc = 0.0;
+    ystyle = VARIABLE;
+    varshape = 1;
+  } else {
+    yc = yscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[3]);
+    ystyle = CONSTANT;
+  }
+
+  if (strstr(arg[4],"v_") == arg[4]) {
+    int n = strlen(arg[4]+2) + 1;
+    zstr = new char[n];
+    strcpy(zstr,arg[4]+2);
+    zc = 0.0;
+    zstyle = VARIABLE;
+    varshape = 1;
+  } else {
+    zc = zscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[4]);
+    zstyle = CONSTANT;
+  }
 
-  rstr = NULL;
   if (strstr(arg[5],"v_") == arg[5]) {
     int n = strlen(&arg[5][2]) + 1;
     rstr = new char[n];
@@ -44,19 +75,22 @@ RegSphere::RegSphere(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
     radius = 0.0;
     rstyle = VARIABLE;
     varshape = 1;
-    variable_check();
-    shape_update();
   } else {
     radius = xscale*force->numeric(FLERR,arg[5]);
     rstyle = CONSTANT;
   }
 
+  if (varshape) {
+    variable_check();
+    shape_update();
+  }
+
   // error check
 
   if (radius < 0.0) error->all(FLERR,"Illegal region sphere command");
 
   // extent of sphere
-  // for variable radius, uses initial radius
+  // for variable radius, uses initial radius and origin for variable center
 
   if (interior) {
     bboxflag = 1;
@@ -77,6 +111,9 @@ RegSphere::RegSphere(LAMMPS *lmp, int narg, char **arg) :
 
 RegSphere::~RegSphere()
 {
+  delete [] xstr;
+  delete [] ystr;
+  delete [] zstr;
   delete [] rstr;
   delete [] contact;
 }
@@ -86,7 +123,7 @@ RegSphere::~RegSphere()
 void RegSphere::init()
 {
   Region::init();
-  if (rstr) variable_check();
+  if (varshape) variable_check();
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -168,9 +205,20 @@ int RegSphere::surface_exterior(double *x, double cutoff)
 
 void RegSphere::shape_update()
 {
-  radius = xscale * input->variable->compute_equal(rvar);
-  if (radius < 0.0)
-    error->one(FLERR,"Variable evaluation in region gave bad value");
+  if (xstyle == VARIABLE)
+    xc = xscale * input->variable->compute_equal(xvar);
+
+  if (ystyle == VARIABLE)
+    yc = yscale * input->variable->compute_equal(yvar);
+
+  if (zstyle == VARIABLE)
+    zc = zscale * input->variable->compute_equal(zvar);
+
+  if (rstyle == VARIABLE) {
+    radius = xscale * input->variable->compute_equal(rvar);
+    if (radius < 0.0)
+      error->one(FLERR,"Variable evaluation in region gave bad value");
+  }
 }
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -179,13 +227,38 @@ void RegSphere::shape_update()
 
 void RegSphere::variable_check()
 {
-  rvar = input->variable->find(rstr);
-  if (rvar < 0)
-    error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region sphere does not exist");
-  if (!input->variable->equalstyle(rvar))
-    error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region sphere is invalid style");
-}
+  if (xstyle == VARIABLE) {
+    xvar = input->variable->find(xstr);
+    if (xvar < 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region sphere does not exist");
+    if (!input->variable->equalstyle(xvar))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region sphere is invalid style");
+  }
 
+  if (ystyle == VARIABLE) {
+    yvar = input->variable->find(ystr);
+    if (yvar < 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region sphere does not exist");
+    if (!input->variable->equalstyle(yvar))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region sphere is invalid style");
+  }
+
+  if (zstyle == VARIABLE) {
+    zvar = input->variable->find(zstr);
+    if (zvar < 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region sphere does not exist");
+    if (!input->variable->equalstyle(zvar))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region sphere is invalid style");
+  }
+
+  if (rstyle == VARIABLE) {
+    rvar = input->variable->find(rstr);
+    if (rvar < 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable name for region sphere does not exist");
+    if (!input->variable->equalstyle(rvar))
+      error->all(FLERR,"Variable for region sphere is invalid style");
+  }
+}
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Set values needed to calculate velocity due to shape changes.
diff --git a/src/region_sphere.h b/src/region_sphere.h
index c003a91651..82bac6a619 100644
--- a/src/region_sphere.h
+++ b/src/region_sphere.h
@@ -40,8 +40,11 @@ class RegSphere : public Region {
  private:
   double xc,yc,zc;
   double radius;
+  int xstyle,xvar;
+  int ystyle,yvar;
+  int zstyle,zvar;
   int rstyle,rvar;
-  char *rstr;
+  char *xstr,*ystr,*zstr,*rstr;
 
   void variable_check();
 };
diff --git a/tools/python/pizza/dump.py b/tools/python/pizza/dump.py
index 36a24dcd39..8098a2c4b7 100644
--- a/tools/python/pizza/dump.py
+++ b/tools/python/pizza/dump.py
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ class dump:
       yprdinv = 1.0 / (snap.yhi - snap.ylo)
       zprdinv = 1.0 / (snap.zhi - snap.zlo)
       atoms = snap.atoms
-      if atoms != None:
+      if type(atoms) != types.NoneType:
         atoms[:,x] = (atoms[:,x] - snap.xlo) * xprdinv
         atoms[:,y] = (atoms[:,y] - snap.ylo) * yprdinv
         atoms[:,z] = (atoms[:,z] - snap.zlo) * zprdinv
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ class dump:
       h4inv = (h3*h5 - h1*h4) / (h0*h1*h2)
       h5inv = xy / (h0*h1)
       atoms = snap.atoms
-      if atoms != None:
+      if type(atoms) != types.NoneType:
         atoms[:,x] = (atoms[:,x] - snap.xlo)*h0inv + \
             (atoms[:,y] - snap.ylo)*h5inv + \
             (atoms[:,z] - snap.zlo)*h4inv
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ class dump:
       yprd = snap.yhi - snap.ylo
       zprd = snap.zhi - snap.zlo
       atoms = snap.atoms
-      if atoms != None:
+      if type(atoms) != types.NoneType:
         atoms[:,x] = snap.xlo + atoms[:,x]*xprd
         atoms[:,y] = snap.ylo + atoms[:,y]*yprd
         atoms[:,z] = snap.zlo + atoms[:,z]*zprd
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ class dump:
       h4 = xz
       h5 = xy
       atoms = snap.atoms
-      if atoms != None:
+      if type(atoms) != types.NoneType:
         atoms[:,x] = snap.xlo + atoms[:,x]*h0 + atoms[:,y]*h5 + atoms[:,z]*h4
         atoms[:,y] = snap.ylo + atoms[:,y]*h1 + atoms[:,z]*h3
         atoms[:,z] = snap.zlo + atoms[:,z]*h2