Waterfowl Harvest Benefits in Northern Aboriginal Communities and Potential Climate Change Impacts

Migratory waterfowl are important to the diets of residents in Canada’s northern communities. Contrary to recreational hunters, indigenous peoples have rights to harvest wildlife for subsistence needs without permits. As a result, migratory waterfowl are an important component of diets of Aboriginal peoples in northern Canada, substituting for expensive beef transported from the south. Wild geese and duck provide many benefits to native people, including improved nutrition and health. In this paper, scaled-down data from global climate models are used in a wildlife model to project potential migratory waterfowl abundance in the Northwest Territories for three future periods up to 2080. The models project potential future harvests of geese and ducks by Aboriginal hunters and the financial and nutritional benefits. It turns out that northern Aboriginal peoples can benefit significantly as a result of climate change that affects migratory waterfowl, but likely at the expense of hunters and recreationists in other regions of North America.subsistence harvests by indigenous peoples; diet and nutrition; climate change

Performance of four modern whole genome amplification methods for copy number variant detection in single cells

Whole genome amplification (WGA) has become an invaluable tool to perform copy number variation (CNV) detection in single, or a limited number of cells. Unfortunately, current WGA methods introduce representation bias that limits the detection of small CNVs. New WGA methods have been introduced that might have the potential to reduce this bias. We compared the performance of PicoPLEX DNA-Seq (Picoseq), DOPlify, REPLI-g and Ampli-1 WGA for aneuploidy screening and copy number analysis using shallow whole genome massively parallel sequencing (MPS), starting from single or a limited number of cells. Although the four WGA methods perform differently, they are all suited for this application

STR profiling and Copy Number Variation analysis on single, preserved cells using current Whole Genome Amplification methods

The growing interest in liquid biopsies for cancer research and cell-based non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) invigorates the need for improved single cell analysis. In these applications, target cells are extremely rare and fragile in peripheral circulation, which makes the genetic analysis very challenging. To overcome these challenges, cell stabilization and unbiased whole genome amplification are required. This study investigates the performance of four WGA methods on single or a limited number of cells after 24 hour of Streck Cell-Free DNA BCT preservation. The suitability of the DNA, amplified with Ampli1, DOPlify, PicoPLEX and REPLI-g, was assessed for both short tandem repeat (STR) profiling and copy number variant (CNV) analysis after shallow whole genome massively parallel sequencing (MPS). Results demonstrate that Ampli1, DOPlify and PicoPLEX perform well for both applications, with some differences between the methods. Samples amplified with REPLI-g did not result in suitable STR or CNV profiles, indicating that this WGA method is not able to generate high quality DNA after Streck Cell-Free DNA BCT stabilization of the cells

Spatiogram features to characterize pearls in paintings

Objective characterization of jewels in paintings, especially pearls, has been a long lasting challenge for art historians. The way an artist painted pearls reflects his ability to observing nature and his knowledge of contemporary optical theory. Moreover, the painterly execution may also be considered as an individual characteristic useful in distinguishing hands. In this work, we propose a set of image analysis techniques to analyze and measure spatial characteristics of the digital images of pearls, all relying on the so called spatiogram image representation. Our experimental results demonstrate good correlation between the new metrics and the visually observed image features, and also capture the degree of realism of the visual appearance in the painting. In that sense, these results set the basis in creating a practical tool for art historical attribution and give strong motivation for further investigations in this direction

Digital image processing of the Ghent altarpiece : supporting the painting's study and conservation treatment

In this article, we show progress in certain image processing techniques that can support the physical restoration of the painting, its art-historical analysis, or both. We show how analysis of the crack patterns could indicate possible areas of overpaint, which may be of great value for the physical restoration campaign, after further validation. Next, we explore how digital image inpainting can serve as a simulation for the restoration of paint losses. Finally, we explore how the statistical analysis of the relatively simple and frequently recurring objects (such as pearls in this masterpiece) may characterize the consistency of the painter’s style and thereby aid both art-historical interpretation and physical restoration campaign

Virtual restoration of the Ghent altarpiece using crack detection and inpainting

In this paper, we present a new method for virtual restoration of digitized paintings, with the special focus on the Ghent Altarpiece (1432), one of Belgium's greatest masterpieces. The goal of the work is to remove cracks from the digitized painting thereby approximating how the painting looked like before ageing for nearly 600 years and aiding art historical and palaeographical analysis. For crack detection, we employ a multiscale morphological approach, which can cope with greatly varying thickness of the cracks as well as with their varying intensities (from dark to the light ones). Due to the content of the painting (with extremely many fine details) and complex type of cracks (including inconsistent whitish clouds around them), the available inpainting methods do not provide satisfactory results on many parts of the painting. We show that patch-based methods outperform pixel-based ones, but leaving still much room for improvements in this application. We propose a new method for candidate patch selection, which can be combined with different patch-based inpainting methods to improve their performance in crack removal. The results demonstrate improved performance, with less artefacts and better preserved fine details

Multiplex STR amplification sensitivity in a silicon microchip

The demand for solutions to perform forensic DNA profiling outside of centralized laboratories is increasing. We here demonstrate highly sensitive STR amplification using a silicon micro-PCR (mu PCR) chip. Exploiting industry-standard semiconductor manufacturing processes, a device was fabricated that features a small form factor thanks to an integrated heating element covering three parallel micro-reactors with a reaction volume of 0.5 mu l each. Diluted reference DNA samples (1 ng-31 pg) were amplified on the mu PCR chip using the forensically validated AmpFISTR Identifier Plus kit, followed by conventional capillary electrophoresis. Complete STR profiles were generated with input DNA quantities down to 62 pg. Occasional allelic dropouts were observed from 31 pg downward. On-chip STR profiles were compared with those of identical samples amplified using a conventional thermal cycler for direct comparison of amplification sensitivity in a forensic setting. The observed sensitivity was in line with kit specifications for both mu PCR and conventional PCR. Finally, a rapid amplification protocol was developed. Complete STR profiles could be generated in less than 17 minutes from as little as 125 pg template DNA. Together, our results are an important step towards the development of commercial, mass-produced, relatively cheap, handheld devices for on-site testing in forensic DNA analysis

In the search for low-cost year-round feeds: Pen-level growth performance of local and crossbred Ugandan pigs fed forage- or silage-based diets versus commercial diet

Smallholder pig farmers in East Africa report that lack of feed, seasonal feed shortages, quality and cost are key constraints to pig rearing. Commercially prepared pig diets are too expensive and people and pigs compete for food. Smallholder farmers typically feed nutritionally unbalanced diets, resulting in low average daily gain (ADG) and poor farmer profits. Our objective was to compare the ADG of Ugandan pigs fed forage- or silage-based or commercial diets. Ugandan weaner-grower pigs were randomly assigned to forage- or silage-based diets or commercial diet. Pigs were weighed every 3 weeks from 9 to 32 weeks of age. Pen-level ADG and feed conversion were compared across diets using multiple linear regression. The ADG of pigs fed forage- or silage-based diets was lower than those fed commercial diets between 9 and 24 weeks of age (p  0.05). Between 28 and 32 weeks, pigs fed forage-based diets had lower ADG than those on other diets (p  0.05). Least squares mean ADG (g/pig/day) for pigs fed forage- or silage-based diets or commercial diet were 36, and 52, and 294 respectively at 9–15 weeks; 163, 212, 329 at 15–19 weeks; 112, 362, 574 at 20–24 weeks and 694, 994, and 1233 at 28 to 32 weeks of age. It was concluded that forage- and silage-based diets are unsuitable for small, newly weaned pigs. Feeding forage- or silage-based diets to finishing pigs is more suitable. Forage- and silage based diets are year-round low-cost pig-feeding strategies that will improve the growth performance of East African pigs, thereby increasing pig farmer income and food security

Forensic tri-allelic SNP genotyping using nanopore sequencing

The potential and current state-of-the-art of forensic SNP genotyping using nanopore sequencing was investigated with a panel of 16 tri-allelic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), multiplexing five samples per sequencing run. The sample set consisted of three single-source human genomic reference control DNA samples and two GEDNAP samples, simulating casework samples. The primers for the multiplex SNP-loci PCR were taken from a study which researched their value in a forensic setting using conventional single-base extension technology. Workflows for multiplexed Oxford Nanopore Technologies 1D and 1D(2) sequencing were developed that provide correct genotyping of most SNP loci. Loci that are problematic for nanopore sequencing were characterized. When such loci are avoided, nanopore sequencing of forensic tri-allelic SNPs is technically feasible