Impact of Accounting for Polygenic Effects on the Accuracy of Genomic Evaluations in Livestock Breeding

To investigate the accuracy of genomic breeding values, different scenarios were defined by accounting for polygenic effects, a different number of quantitative trait loci (30, 90, 150), and three levels of heritability (0.15, 0.25, and 0.4). The Bayes B method was used to estimate marker effects. A historical population was simulated stochastically, which consisted of 100 animals at first 100 generations, then the population size gradually increased to 1000 animals during the next 100 generations. The animals in generation 201 with known genotypic and phenotypic records were assigned as the reference population, and animals of generation 202 were considered as the validation population. The genome was comprised of one chromosome with 100 cM length and 500 markers that were distributed through the genome randomly. Picking up the information that was not captured by linkage disequilibrium (LD), including polygenic effects in the predictions increased the accuracy of genomic evaluations. As the trait heritability went from 0.15 to 0.40, the average genomic accuracy increased from 0.48 to 0.64. An increment in the number of quantitative trait loci (NQTL) declined the accuracy of the Bayes B method. This study suggests that the highest accuracy (0.74) was achieved when additive genotypic effects were coded by a few quantitative trait loci and a lot of small effects included in the prediction of genomic breeding values

Impact of Accounting for Polygenic Effects on the Accuracy of Genomic Evaluations in Livestock Breeding

To investigate the accuracy of genomic breeding values, different scenarios were defined by accounting for polygenic effects, a different number of quantitative trait loci (30, 90, 150), and three levels of heritability (0.15, 0.25, and 0.4). The Bayes B method was used to estimate marker effects. A historical population was simulated stochastically, which consisted of 100 animals at first 100 generations, then the population size gradually increased to 1000 animals during the next 100 generations. The animals in generation 201 with known genotypic and phenotypic records were assigned as the reference population, and animals of generation 202 were considered as the validation population. The genome was comprised of one chromosome with 100 cM length and 500 markers that were distributed through the genome randomly. Picking up the information that was not captured by linkage disequilibrium (LD), including polygenic effects in the predictions increased the accuracy of genomic evaluations. As the trait heritability went from 0.15 to 0.40, the average genomic accuracy increased from 0.48 to 0.64. An increment in the number of quantitative trait loci (NQTL) declined the accuracy of the Bayes B method. This study suggests that the highest accuracy (0.74) was achieved when additive genotypic effects were coded by a few quantitative trait loci and a lot of small effects included in the prediction of genomic breeding values

Studying Customer Satisfaction of Mashhad Airport Customs Based on Kano and Servqual Models

Over the past two decades, developed countries were shadowed by moving toward service-based economics, which is recently affecting developing countries. Due to such transformation, scientific parties became interested in and managers tried to increasingly recognize effective factors of quality of service (QoS) and customer satisfaction. The present study made efforts to cover each model weaknesses using strengths of the other through integrating the two well–known models of Kano & Servqual. The survey was conducted at Customs of Mashhad Airport trying to identify customer satisfaction effective factors. 120 questionnaires were randomly distributed among the customs’ clients. The effect of SERVQUAL model dimensions on client satisfaction was identified t=using five research hypotheses; next, each dimension was classified in one of the three requirement categories of KANO model; then, the relationship between factors of quality of service model with the requirements was examined. Research result revealed that more than 50% of changes in dependent variable (satisfaction) are explained by quality of service model components and 75% of changes in customer satisfaction were predicted by functional and motivational requirements. Moreover, There was seen a significant relationship between quality of service model components and Kano functional and motivational requirements. Finally, some suggestions are recommended to improve the organization quality of services and to advice for future research

Umbelliprenin induced both anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in C57/BL6 mice

Objective(s): Umbelliprenin is a prenyloxy-coumarin with pharmacologically polyvalent activity. Several studies have shown its anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, and antigenotoxic activity, and other functions. However, the exact mechanism of action of this compound on the immune response has not yet been shown. Here, we investigated umbelliprenin effects on the predominance of Th1 and Th2 responses in normal C57/BL6 mice. Materials and Methods: Umbelliprenin (2.5 mg/200 µl IP) were administered to six C57/BL6 mice every other day for 8 days. Paraffin and PBS-injected mice were enrolled as solvent and control groups, respectively (n=6 mice/group). IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-4 levels were determined in sera and also in splenocytes culture supernatants in the presence of Con A (3 µg/ml) after 72 hr. H&E staining of paraffin embedded blocks was performed for lung and liver tissues of mice. Results: Umbelliprenin could significantly increase the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4 in sera and IL-10 in splenocytes cultures. Comparison of IFN-γ /IL-4 in the sera and splenocytes culture supernatants showed lower ratios in umbelliprenin treated mice than in solvent and untreated groups. Conclusion: The in vivo study showed that umbelliprenin could induce anti-inflammatory responses via the predominance of Th2 cells and some regulatory responses in C57/BL6 mice

Evaluation of an immunocapture-agglutination test (Brucellacapt) for serodiagnosis of human brucellosis, Ilam, Iran

Brucellosis is common health problem in some Middle Eastern, Mediterranean countries and Iran. The present investigation was carried out to investigate the prevalence of brucella antibodies through Rose bengal test (RBT), Wright and Coombs and comparison with Brucella Capt Test. A total of 754 different suspected to brucellosis were tested during the period from March 2008 to February 2009. They assayed by Brucellacapt, Coombs tests and SAT. Our results had shown that of 754 serum samples, 125 samples were positive by Rosbangal test. Thus, frequency of brucellosis by Rosbangal test was 16.5%. The results in 1/40 and 1/80 were equal for Brucellacapt and Coombs test and different for SAT. The other titers results were different for all testes which used in our study. The results from the present study showed a high sensitivity and specificity of Brucellacapt for the diagnosis of human brucellosis

The combined impact of sauerkraut with Leuconostoc mesenteroides to enhance immunomodulatory activity in Escherichia coli-infected mice

This study investigated the combined impact of sauerkraut and Leuconostoc mesenteroides culture on immunomodulatory activity in experimental animal. The in vivo immunomodulatory activity of Escherichia coli-infected Balb-C mice was ascertained in fermented sauerkrauts [test vs. control]. Both sauerkrauts enhanced the adaptive immune response [evidenced by an increase in CD4+ CD8+ IFN-γ, TNFα] and innate immune response [represented by a decrease of CD68-IL-6]. Nev- ertheless, the in vivo immunomodulatory activity of sauerkraut combined with L. mesenteroides was higher than that shown in sauerkraut control solely

Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Extract Alleviates Symptoms of Allergic Diarrhea in Mice, Involving Opioid Receptors

The incidence of food hypersensitivity and food allergies is on the rise and new treatment approaches are needed. We investigated whether N. sativa, one of its components, thymoquinone, or synthetic opioid receptor (OR)-agonists can alleviate food allergy. Hence, ovalbumin (OVA) -sensitized BALB/c-mice were pre-treated either with a hexanic N. sativa seed extract, thymoquinone, kappa- (U50'4889) or mu-OR-agonists (DAMGO) and subsequently challenged intra-gastrically with OVA. All 4 treatments significantly decreased clinical scores of OVA-induced diarrhea. N. sativa seed extract, thymoquinone, and U50'488 also decreased intestinal mast cell numbers and plasma mouse mast cell protease-1 (MMCP-1). DAMGO, in contrast, had no effect on mast cell parameters but decreased IFNγ, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 concentration after ex vivo re-stimulation of mesenteric lymphocytes. The effects on allergy symptoms were reversible by OR-antagonist pre-treatment, whereas most of the effects on immunological parameter were not. We demonstrate that N. sativa seed extract significantly improves symptoms and immune parameters in murine OVA-induced allergic diarrhea; this effect is at least partially mediated by thymoquinone. ORs may also be involved and could be a new target for intestinal allergy symptom alleviation. N. sativa seed extract seems to be a promising candidate for nutritional interventions in humans with food allergy