Mixed model association scans of multi-environmental trial data reveal major loci controlling yield and yield related traits in Hordeum vulgare in Mediterranean environments

An association panel consisting of 185 accessions representative of the barley germplasm cultivated in the Mediterranean basin was used to localise quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling grain yield and yield related traits. The germplasm set was genotyped with 1,536 SNP markers and tested for associations with phenotypic data gathered over 2 years for a total of 24 year × location combinations under a broad range of environmental conditions. Analysis of multi-environmental trial (MET) data by fitting a mixed model with kinship estimates detected from two to seven QTL for the major components of yield including 1000 kernel weight, grains per spike and spikes per m2, as well as heading date, harvest index and plant height. Several of the associations involved SNPs tightly linked to known major genes determining spike morphology in barley (vrs1 and int-c). Similarly, the largest QTL for heading date co-locates with SNPs linked with eam6, a major locus for heading date in barley for autumn sown conditions. Co-localization of several QTL related to yield components traits suggest that major developmental loci may be linked to most of the associations. This study highlights the potential of association genetics to identify genetic variants controlling complex traits

Isolation and anti-HIV-1 integrase activity of lentzeosides A–F from extremotolerant lentzea sp. H45, a strain isolated from a high-altitude Atacama Desert soil

The extremotolerant isolate H45 was one of several actinomycetes isolated from a high-altitude Atacama Desert soil collected in northwest Chile. The isolate was identified as a new Lentzea sp. using a combination of chemotaxonomic, morphological and phylogenetic properties. Large scale fermentation of the strain in two different media followed by chromatographic purification led to the isolation of six new diene and monoene glycosides named lentzeosides A–F, together with the known compound (Z)-3-hexenyl glucoside. The structures of the new compounds were confirmed by HRESIMS and NMR analyses. Compounds 1–6 displayed moderate inhibitory activity against HIV integrase

Pesticide use and opportunities of exposure among farmers and their families: cross-sectional studies 1998-2006 from Hebron governorate, occupied Palestinian territory

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adverse health effects caused by pesticide exposure have been reported in occupied Palestinian territory and the world at large. The objective of this paper is to compare patterns of pesticide use in Beit-U'mmar village, West Bank, between 1998 and 2006.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied two populations in Beit-U'mmar village, comprised of: 1) 61 male farmers and their wives in 1998 and 2) 250 male farmers in 2006. Both populations completed a structured interview, which included questions about socio-demographic factors, types of farming tasks, as well as compounds, quantities, and handling of pesticides. Using the 1998 population as a reference, we applied generalized linear regression models (GLM) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in order to estimate prevalence differences (PD) between the two populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 1998, farmers used 47 formulated pesticides on their crops. In 2006, 16 of these pesticides were still in use, including five internationally banned compounds. There were positive changes with less use of large quantities of pesticides (>40 units/year) (PD -51; CI -0.60, -0.43), in applying the recommended dosage of pesticides (PD +0.57; CI +0.48, +0.68) and complying with the safety period (PD +0.89; CI+0.83, +0.95). Changes also included farmers' habits while applying pesticides, such as less smoking (PD -0.20; CI-0.34, -0.07) and eating at the work place (PD -0.33; CI-0.47, -0.19). No significant changes were found from 1998 to 2006 regarding use of personal protective equipment, pesticide storage, farmers' habits after applying pesticides, and in using some highly hazardous pesticides.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results were based on two cross-sectional surveys and should be interpreted with caution due to potential validity problems. The results of the study suggest some positive changes in the handling of pesticides amongst participants in 2006, which could be due to different policy interventions and regulations that were implemented after 1998. However, farm workers in Beit -U'mmar village are still at risk of health effects because of ongoing exposure to pesticides. To the best of our knowledge, no studies on long-term changes in pesticide use have been reported from developing countries.</p

In Vitro Transformation of Primary Human CD34+ Cells by AML Fusion Oncogenes: Early Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Possible Drug Target in AML

Different fusion oncogenes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have distinct clinical and laboratory features suggesting different modes of malignant transformation. Here we compare the in vitro effects of representatives of 4 major groups of AML fusion oncogenes on primary human CD34+ cells. As expected from their clinical similarities, MLL-AF9 and NUP98-HOXA9 had very similar effects in vitro. They both caused erythroid hyperplasia and a clear block in erythroid and myeloid maturation. On the other hand, AML1-ETO and PML-RARA had only modest effects on myeloid and erythroid differentiation. All oncogenes except PML-RARA caused a dramatic increase in long-term proliferation and self-renewal. Gene expression profiling revealed two distinct temporal patterns of gene deregulation. Gene deregulation by MLL-AF9 and NUP98-HOXA9 peaked 3 days after transduction. In contrast, the vast majority of gene deregulation by AML1-ETO and PML-RARA occurred within 6 hours, followed by a dramatic drop in the numbers of deregulated genes. Interestingly, the p53 inhibitor MDM2 was upregulated by AML1-ETO at 6 hours. Nutlin-3, an inhibitor of the interaction between MDM2 and p53, specifically inhibited the proliferation and self-renewal of primary human CD34+ cells transduced with AML1-ETO, suggesting that MDM2 upregulation plays a role in cell transformation by AML1-ETO. These data show that differences among AML fusion oncogenes can be recapitulated in vitro using primary human CD34+ cells and that early gene expression profiling in these cells can reveal potential drug targets in AML

Effects of biofertilizer containing N-fixer, P and K solubilizers and AM fungi on maize growth: A greenhouse trial.

An in vitro study was undertaken to evaluate the compatibility of indigenous plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with commonly used inorganic and organic sources of fertilizers in tea plantations. The nitrogenous, phosphatic and potash fertilizers used for this study were urea, rock phosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. The organic sources of fertilizers neem cake, composted coir pith and vermicompost were also used. PGPRs such as nitrogen fixer; Azospirillum lipoferum, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB); Pseudomonas putida, Potassium Solubilizing Bacteria (KSB); Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas putida were used for compatibility study. Results were indicated that PGPRs preferred the coir pith and they proved their higher colony establishment in the formulation except Azospirillum spp. that preferred vermicompost for their establishment. The optimum dose of neem cake powder

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Short wave&ndash;automated perimetry (SWAP) versus optical coherence tomography in early detection of glaucoma [Corrigendum]

Zaky AG, Yassin AT, El Sayid SH. Clin Ophthalmol. 2016;10:1819&ndash;1824.&nbsp;Page 1819, Abstract, Patients and methods, line 1, &ldquo;In this randomized controlled, consecutive, prospective study&rdquo; should read &ldquo;In this non-randomized, controlled cross-sectional study&rdquo;.Page 1820, left column, Patients and methods, line 1, &ldquo;This consecutive prospective study&rdquo; should read &ldquo;This non-randomized, cross-sectional study&rdquo;.Page 1820, left column, Patients and Methods, Exclusion criteria section, line 5, &ldquo;pachymetry &gt;480 &mu;m or &lt;540 &mu;m&rdquo; should read &ldquo;pachymetry &lt;480 &mu;m or &gt;540 &mu;m&rdquo;.Page 1821, left column, Results section, line 13, &ldquo;RNFL thickness measured by OCT was outside normal limits in at least 1 hour in 7 eyes&rdquo; should read &ldquo;RNFL thickness measured by OCT was outside normal limits in 1 hour in 7 eyes&rdquo;.Page 1821, right column, Results section, line 12, &ldquo;RNFL thickness measured by OCT was outside normal limits in at least 1 hour in 9 eyes&rdquo; should read &ldquo;RNFL thickness measured by OCT was outside normal limits in 1 hour in 9 eyes&rdquo;.Page 1821, Table 1 is incorrect, the correct Table is shown in the pdf below and the HTML.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the original articl

Short wave&ndash;automated perimetry (SWAP) versus optical coherence tomography in early detection of glaucoma

Adel Galal Zaky,1 Ahmed Tarek Yassin,2 Saber Hamed El Sayid1 1Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El Kom, Menoufia, Egypt; 2Ophthalmology Department, Banha Educational Hospital, Banha, El Kalyobia, Egypt Objective: To assess the role and diagnostic effectiveness of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and short wave&ndash;automated perimetry (SWAP) to distinguish between normal, glaucoma suspects, and surely diagnosed glaucomatous eye.Background: Changes in the optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) often precede the appearance of visual field defect with standard automated perimetry. Unfortunately, RNFL defect can be difficult to identify during clinical examination. Early detection of glaucoma is still controversial, whether by OCT, SWAP, or frequency-doubling technology perimetry.Patients and methods: In this randomized controlled, consecutive, prospective study, a total 70 subjects (140 eyes) were included in the study, divided into three groups: Group A, 10 healthy volunteers (20 eyes); Group B, 30 patients (60 eyes) with glaucoma suspect; and Group C, 30 patients (60 eyes) with already diagnosed glaucomatous eyes.Results: Average RNFL thickness was 75&plusmn;9.0 in the glaucoma group, 99&plusmn;15.5 in the control group, and 94&plusmn;12 in glaucoma suspect. The inferior quadrant was the early parameter affected. There was significant correlation between visual field parameters and RNFL thickness in both glaucoma and glaucoma suspect groups.Conclusion: Both RNFL thickness measured by OCT and SWAP indices are good discrimination tools between glaucomatous, glaucoma suspect, and normal eyes. OCT parameters tend to be more sensitive than SWAP parameters. Keywords: OCT, SWAP, glaucoma, intraocular pressure, RNF