Frequency, type, and distribution of EST-SSRs from three genotypes of Lolium perenne, and their conservation across orthologous sequences of Festuca arundinacea, Brachypodium distachyon, and Oryza sativa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are highly informative and widely used for genetic and breeding studies in several plant species. They are used for cultivar identification, variety protection, as anchor markers in genetic mapping, and in marker-assisted breeding. Currently, a limited number of SSR markers are publicly available for perennial ryegrass (<it>Lolium perenne</it>). We report on the exploitation of a comprehensive EST collection in <it>L. perenne </it>for SSR identification. The objectives of this study were 1) to analyse the frequency, type, and distribution of SSR motifs in ESTs derived from three genotypes of <it>L. perenne</it>, 2) to perform a comparative analysis of SSR motif polymorphisms between allelic sequences, 3) to conduct a comparative analysis of SSR motif polymorphisms between orthologous sequences of <it>L. perenne</it>, <it>Festuca arundinacea, Brachypodium distachyon</it>, and <it>O. sativa</it>, 4) to identify functionally associated EST-SSR markers for application in comparative genomics and breeding.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 25,744 ESTs, representing 8.53 megabases of nucleotide information from three genotypes of <it>L. perenne</it>, 1,458 ESTs (5.7%) contained one or more SSRs. Of these SSRs, 955 (3.7%) were non-redundant. Tri-nucleotide repeats were the most abundant type of repeats followed by di- and tetra-nucleotide repeats. The EST-SSRs from the three genotypes were analysed for allelic- and/or genotypic SSR motif polymorphisms. Most of the SSR motifs (97.7%) showed no polymorphisms, whereas 22 EST-SSRs showed allelic- and/or genotypic polymorphisms. All polymorphisms identified were changes in the number of repeat units. Comparative analysis of the <it>L. perenne </it>EST-SSRs with sequences of <it>Festuca arundinacea</it>, <it>Brachypodium distachyon</it>, and <it>Oryza sativa </it>identified 19 clusters of orthologous sequences between these four species. Analysis of the clusters showed that the SSR motif generally is conserved in the closely related species <it>F. arundinacea</it>, but often differs in length of the SSR motif. In contrast, SSR motifs are often lost in the more distant related species <it>B. distachyon </it>and <it>O. sativa</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results indicate that the <it>L. perenne </it>EST-SSR markers are a valuable resource for genetic mapping, as well as evaluation of co-location between QTLs and functionally associated markers.</p

Résultats du traitement chirurgical des fractures malléolaires de l’adulte au CHR Sokodé

Introduction&nbsp;: Les fractures malléolaires sont fréquentes et leur traitement est de plus en plus chirurgical. Le but de l’étude était d’évaluer les résultats cliniques, radiologiques et fonctionnels des fractures bimalléolaires opérées dans un hôpital régional du Togo. Matériels et Méthode&nbsp;: Il s’agissait d’une étude rétrospective portant sur les patients pris en charge entre Janvier 2019 et Décembre 2022 dans le service d’Orthopédie du Centre Hospitalier Régional de Sokodé. Les dossiers des patients suivis pour fractures bimalléolaires étaient exploités. Les patients suivis et revus pendant au moins 06 mois étaient inclus. Résultats&nbsp;: Le délai de chirurgie était de deux semaines en moyenne avec des extrêmes de 24h et 40 jours.&nbsp; L’évaluation sur le plan anatomique selon les critères de Leeds et Ehrlich a trouvé 85% de bonnes réductions. Selon le score de Kitaoka à 06 mois, 52,5%(n=20) de scores excellents et bons correspondant aux fractures initialement fermées et 39,5 %(n=15) de scores bons et moyens correspondant aux fractures initialement ouvertes et 08%(n=03) de scores mauvais. Les fractures ouvertes étaient sujettes à des complications secondaires à type d’arthrose précoce , d’ostéoarthrite et de pseudarthrose. &nbsp;L’évaluation de la survenue de l’arthrose selon les critères de Magnusson et Harper au 18ème mois chez 28 patients a noté une absence d’arthrose dans 47% des cas (n=18), une arthrose modérée dans 10% des cas (n=04) et une arthrose sévère dans 16% des cas (n=06). Conclusion&nbsp;: Le traitement chirurgical des fractures fermées bimalléolaires donnait de bons et excellents résultats fonctionnels. Les fractures ouvertes étaient sujettes à des complications précoces avec un pronostic fonctionnel médiocre. &nbsp; Introduction: Malleolar fractures are frequent and their treatment is increasingly surgical. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical, radiological and functional results of malleolar fractures operated on in a secondary hospital in Togo. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective study of patients managed between January 2019 and December 2022 in the Orthopedic Department of the Regional Hospital of Sokode. The records of patients followed for bimalleolar fractures were exploited. Patients followed and reviewed for at least 6 months were included. Results: The average time to surgery was two weeks with extremes of 24 hours and 40 days.&nbsp; Anatomical evaluation according to the Leeds and Ehrlich criteria found 85% good reductions. According to the Kitaoka score at 6 months, 52,5%(n=20) of the scores were excellent for close fracture and 39,5%(n=15) were good or fair for open fracture and 08%(n=03) of bad score. Open fractures were prone to secondary complications such as early osteoarthritis and ankle infection. Evaluation of the occurrence of osteoarthritis according to the Magnusson and Harper criteria at 18 months in 28 patients noted no osteoarthritis in 47% (n=18), moderate osteoarthritis in 10% (n=04) and severe osteoarthritis in 16% (n=06) of cases. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of closed bimalleolar fractures gave good and excellent functional results. Open fractures were prone to early complications with a poor functional prognosis

Utnyttja belysningen effektivt

I norra Europa är ljuset helt otillräckligt för odling under vinterhalvåret och ibland även på sommaren. Artificiell belysning har därför blivit allt vanligare inte bara vid odling av småplantor och krukväxter utan även för året-runt-produktion av olika grönsaker i växthus. Utvecklingen har gått från glödlampor, neonrör och kvicksilverlampor via metallhalogen till högtrycksnatriumlampor (HPS) som är dominerande än idag alltsedan 1970-talet. Stigande energipriser och ökande krav på miljöhänsyn har gjort att det idag finns ett stort behov av att effektivisera användandet av belysning i växthus. Tekniken utvecklas stadigt, HPS-lamporna har undan för undan fått allt bättre effektivitet med införandet av 600 och 1000 W lampor samt elektroniska drivdon. Dessutom har helt nya lamptyper som t.ex. LED-lampor och plasmalampor kommit på marknaden. Det finns dock mycket man kan göra för att effektivisera sin användning av belysning utan att nödvändigtvis göra en dyr investering i att byta hela utrustningen

The influence of interactions with students for the development of new academics as teachers in higher education

The aim of the current investigation was to provide an insight into how new lecturers in higher education develop as teachers and to identify some of the main influences upon this development. A qualitative, longitudinal design with three semi-structured interviews over a 2-year period was employed with eleven new teachers from a range of higher education institutions and settings. The analysis used case studies, alongside a thematic analysis, to provide fine-grained and idiosyncratic insights into the teachers’ development. The principal finding from the current study was the identification that instances of interactions with students, acted as a core influence upon the new teachers’ development. These instances appeared to provide the teachers with richer and fuller feedback about their teaching. This feedback supported their reflection and influenced the way in which they thought about teaching. Based on these findings it is suggested that teacher development could be enhanced by focussing upon specific instances of interactions with students as these instances provide specific and tangible moments that allow individuals to reflect upon and discuss their conceptions of teaching

Social marketing and healthy eating : Findings from young people in Greece

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12208-013-0112-xGreece has high rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases owing to poor dietary choices. This research provides lessons for social marketing to tackle the severe nutrition-related problems in this country by obtaining insight into the eating behaviour of young adults aged 18–23. Also, the main behavioural theories used to inform the research are critically discussed. The research was conducted in Athens. Nine focus groups with young adults from eight educational institutions were conducted and fifty-nine participants’ views towards eating habits, healthy eating and the factors that affect their food choices were explored. The study found that the participants adopted unhealthier nutritional habits after enrolment. Motivations for healthy eating were good health, appearance and psychological consequences, while barriers included lack of time, fast-food availability and taste, peer pressure, lack of knowledge and lack of family support. Participants reported lack of supportive environments when deciding on food choices. Based on the findings, recommendations about the development of the basic 4Ps of the marketing mix, as well as of a fifth P, for Policy are proposedPeer reviewe