A High-Density Linkage Map of the Ancestral Diploid Strawberry, Fragaria iinumae, Constructed with Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers from the IStraw90 Array and Genotyping by Sequencing

Fragaria iinumae Makino is recognized as an ancestor of the octoploid strawberry species, which includes the cultivated strawberry, Fragaria ×ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier. Here we report the construction of the first high-density linkage map for F. iinumae. The F. iinumae linkage map (Fii map) is based on two high-throughput techniques of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping: the IStraw90 Array (hereafter “Array”), and genotyping by sequencing (GBS). The F2 generation mapping population was derived by selfing F. iinumae hybrid F1D, the product of a cross between two divergent F. iinumae accessions collected from Hokkaido, Japan. The Fii map consists of seven linkage groups (LGs) and has an overall length of 451.7 cM as defined by 496 loci populated by 4173 markers: 3280 from the Array and 893 from GBS. Comparisons with two versions of the Fragaria vesca ssp. vesca L. ‘Hawaii 4’ pseudo-chromosome (PC) assemblies reveal substantial conservation of synteny and colinearity, yet identified differences that point to possible genomic divergences between F. iinumae and F. vesca, and/or to F. vesca genomic assembly errors. The Fii map provides a basis for anchoring a F. iinumae genome assembly as a prerequisite for constructing a second diploid reference genome for Fragaria

Climate Change and Health in British Columbia: Projected Impacts and a Proposed Agenda for Adaptation Research and Policy

This is a case study describing how climate change may affect the health of British Columbians and to suggest a way forward to promote health and policy research, and adaptation to these changes. After reviewing the limited evidence of the impacts of climate change on human health we have developed five principles to guide the development of research and policy to better predict future impacts of climate change on health and to enhance adaptation to these change in BC. We suggest that, with some modification, these principles will be useful to policy makers in other jurisdictions

The increasing trend in preterm birth in public hospitals in northern Argentina

Objective: To identify factors associated with the increasing incidence of preterm birth in northern Argentina. Methods: In an observational study, data were reviewed from a prospective, population-based registry of pregnancy outcomes in six cities in 2009-2012. The primary outcome was preterm birth (at 20-37 weeks). Bivariate tests and generalized estimating equations were used within a conceptual hierarchical framework to estimate the cluster-corrected annual trend in odds of preterm birth. Results: The study reviewed data from 11 433 live births. There were 484 (4.2%) preterm births. The incidence of preterm births increased by 38% between 2009 and 2012, from 37.5 to 51.7 per 1000 live births. Unadjusted risk factors for preterm birth included young or advanced maternal age, normal body mass index, nulliparity, no prenatal care, no vitamins or supplements during pregnancy, multiple gestation, and maternal hypertension or prepartum hemorrhage. The prevalence of many risk factors increased over the study period, but variations in these factors explained less than 1% of the increasing trend in preterm birth. Conclusion: The incidence of preterm births insix small cities in northern Argentina increased greatly between 2009 and 2012. This trend was unexplained by the risk factors measured. Other factors should be assessed in future studies.Fil: Weaver, Emily H.. University of North Carolina School at Chapel Hill; Estados UnidosFil: Gibbons, Luz. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; ArgentinaFil: Belizan, Jose. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Althabe, Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentin

Validation of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) Food Frequency Questionnaire for use among Adults in Lebanon.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the EPIC food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in Lebanon. DESIGN: Validation of the EPIC FFQ was done against three 24-hour recalls. Unadjusted and energy adjusted correlations, Bland Altman plots, and weighed kappa statistics were used to assess the agreement between the two methods. SETTING: Lebanon. PARTICIPANTS: 119 adults (staff and students) at a Lebanese University. RESULTS: Good unadjusted and energy-adjusted correlation coefficients were found between data from the two methods which ranged from -0.002 (vitamin A) to 0.337 (carbohydrates) and were all statistically significant except for vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, selenium, and niacin. Slight/fair agreement was reported through weighed kappa estimates for unadjusted data ranging from -0.05 (vitamin C) to 0.248 (magnesium) and for energy-adjusted data ranging from -0.034 (vitamin A) to 0.203 (phosphorus). Individuals were categorised into exact and adjacent quartiles with an average of 78% for unadjusted data and 70% for energy-adjusted data, indicating a very good agreement between the EPIC FFQ and the average of the 24-HRs data. The visual inspection of the Bland-Altman plots revealed an over-estimation of energy, carbohydrates, protein, and fat intakes by the FFQ method. CONCLUSION: Overall, when all tests were taken into consideration, this study demonstrated an acceptable agreement of the EPIC FFQ with the 24-hour dietary recall method and significantly good correlations between dietary intakes. Therefore, the EPIC FFQ can be considered a valid tool for assessing diet in epidemiological studies among Lebanese adults

National Forest Funds: mechanisms adapted to today’s challenges - Overview of the situation of 4 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries: Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey

National Forest Funds (NFFs) are mechanisms that could be adapted to address today’s many challenges: their role as funding instruments, they can also act as catalysts to harness international funding such as the REDD+. If properly set, an NFF can also be an efficient tool to rationalize the use of these funds in a context of good governance and to ensure, for example, a redistribution to environmental service providers such as through payments for ecosystem services. Well equipped to deal with global changes, such as increasing anthropogenic stress with poverty in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, which increase wooded areas degradation and withering and desertification due to climate change. An overview of the situation of 4 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries (Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey) was compiled in order to take stock of the context and of the purpose of the implementation or the reinforcement of a national forest fund in terms of development opportunities, structuring, cross sectoral approach, objectives and schedule

Les Fonds forestiers nationaux : des mécanismes adaptés aux défis d’aujourd’hui - Tour d’horizon de la situation de quatre pays du sud et de l’est de la Méditerranée : Liban, Maroc, Tunisie et Turquie

Les fonds forestiers nationaux (FFN) sont des mécanismes adaptés aux défis d’aujourd’hui : en plus d’être un instrument de financement, ils peuvent également être un catalyseur en appelant des financements internationaux tels que la REDD+ par exemple. Correctement habilité, un FFN peut également être un outil efficient pour rationaliser l’utilisation des fonds dans le cadre d’une bonne gouvernance et assurer par exemple une redistribution vers les fournisseurs des services environnementaux dans le cadre de mécanismes de paiements pour services écosystémiques. Autant d’atouts pour mieux faire face aux changements globaux, tels que les pressions anthropiques croissantes et les phénomènes de pauvreté dans les pays du sud et de l’est de la Méditerranée, qui accroissent les dégradations aux espaces boisés mais également les phénomènes de dépérissements et de désertification inhérents au changement climatique. Un tour d’horizon de la situation de quatre pays du sud et de l’est de la Méditerranée (Liban, Maroc, Tunisie et Turquie) est réalisé afin de faire le point sur le contexte dans chaque pays et l’intérêt de la mise en place ou du renforcement d’un fonds forestier national en termes d’opportunités de développement, de structuration, d’approche intersectorielle, d’objectifs et de calendrier

NiII^{II}36_{36}-Containing 54-Tungsto-6-Silicate: Synthesis, Structure, Magnetic and Electrochemical Studies

The 36-Ni$^{II}$-containing 54-tungsto-6-silicate, [Ni$_{36}$(OH)$_{18}$(H$_{2}$O)$_{36}$(SiW$_{9}$O$_{34}$)$_{6}$]$^{6-}$ (Ni$_{36}$) was synthesized by a simple one-pot reaction of the Ni$_{2}$-pivalate complex [Ni$_{2}$(μ-OH$_{2}$)(O$_{2}$CCMe$_{3}$)$_{4}$(HO$_{2}$CCMe$_{3}$)$_{4}$] with the trilacunary [SiW$_{9}$O$_{34}$]$^{10-}$ polyanion precursor in water and structurally characterized by a multitude of physicochemical techniques including single-crystal XRD, FTIR, TGA, elemental analysis, magnetic and electrochemical studies. Polyanion Ni$_{36}$ comprises six equivalent {Ni$^{II}$$_{36}$SiW$_{9}$} units which are linked by Ni−O−W bridges forming a macrocyclic assembly. Magnetic studies demonstrate that the {Ni$_{6}$} building blocks in Ni$_{36}$ remain magnetically intact while forming a hexagonal ring with antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between adjacent {Ni6} units. Electrochemical studies indicate that the first reduction is reversible and associated with the WVI/V couple, whereas the second reduction is irreversible attributed to the Ni$^{II/0}$ couple

Genetic stability of cryopreserved shoot tips of Rubus germplasm

Abstract Questions often arise concerning the genetic stability of plant materials stored in liquid nitrogen for long time periods. This study examined the genetic stability of cryopreserved shoot tips of Rubus germplasm that were stored in liquid nitrogen for more than 12 yr, then rewarmed and regrown. We analyzed the genetic stability of Rubus grabowskii, two blackberry cultivars ("Hillemeyer" and 'Silvan'), and one raspberry cultivar ("Mandarin") as in vitro shoots and as field-grown plants. No morphological differences were observed in greenhouse-grown cryopreserved plants when compared to the control mother plants. In the field, cryopreserved plants appeared similar but were more vigorous than mother plants, with larger leaves, fruit, and seeds. Single sequence repeats (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were performed on shoots immediately after recovery from cryopreservation and on shoots subcultured for 7 mo before analysis. Ten SSR primers developed from "Marion" and "Meeker" microsatellite-enriched libraries amplified one to 15 alleles per locus, with an average of seven alleles and a total of 70 alleles in the four genotypes tested. No SSR polymorphisms were observed between cryopreserved shoots and the corresponding mother plants regardless of subculture. Although no polymorphisms were detected in shoots analyzed immediately after recovery from cryopreservation, AFLP polymorphisms were detected in three of the four Rubus genotypes after they were subcultured for 7 mo. Field-grown plants from the polymorphic shoot tips of R. grabowskii and 'Silvan' displayed the same AFLP fingerprints as their corresponding mother plants. Only longcultured in vitro shoot tips displayed polymorphisms in vitro, and they were no longer detected when the plants were grown ex vitro. The transitory nature of these polymorphisms should be carefully considered when monitoring for genetic stability

Genomics-based diversity analysis of Vanilla species using a Vanilla planifolia draft genome and Genotyping-By-Sequencing

Demand for all-natural vanilla flavor is increasing, but its botanical source, Vanilla planifolia, faces critical challenges arising from a narrow germplasm base and supply limitations. Genomics tools are the key to overcoming these limitations by enabling advanced genetics and plant breeding for new cultivars with improved yield and quality. The objective of this work was to establish the genomic resources needed to facilitate analysis of diversity among Vanilla accessions and to provide a resource to analyze other Vanilla collections. A V. planifolia draft genome was assembled and used to identify 521,732 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers using Genotyping-By-Sequencing (GBS). The draft genome had a size of \u20092.20 Gb representing 97% of the estimated genome size. A filtered set of 5,082 SNPs was used to genotype a living collection of 112 Vanilla accessions from 23 species including native Florida species. Principal component analysis of the genetic distances, population structure, and the maternally inherited rbcL gene identified putative hybrids, misidentified accessions, significant diversity within V. planifolia, and evidence for 12 clusters that separate accessions by species. These results validate the efficiency of genomics-based tools to characterize and identify genetic diversity in Vanilla and provide a significant tool for genomics-assisted plant breeding