COMPARING OUTSTANDING PAPAYA LINES FOR SELECTING AND PRESERVING IMPROVED CHARACTERS

Objective: To evaluate outstanding and adapted papaya lines derived from selection to conserve desirable characteristics. Design/methodology/approach: 23 lines of the 'Maradol' type were evaluated at Antunez Michoacan, Mexico. Initially, the plants' height, stem circumference, number of leaves, and first fruit height were recorded. During their development, outstanding plants were identified, and their self-pollinating was promoted. In the fruits, their polar and equatorial circumference, shape index, weight, width and pulp firmness, and soluble solids were assessed. Results: The plants' development was different, their variability between lines allowed identifying morphological characteristics of interest. Only 10 lines had this condition. The number of fruits formed over covered flower buds and collected fruits on formed fruits was reduced. The fruits´ characterization, except for their soluble solids, showed differences. Multivariate analysis indicated variability associated with each principal component. Limitations on study/implications: Currently in Mexico, there are few papaya varieties, the 'Maradol' variety being dominant, and vulnerable to phytosanitary problems over time. However, developing varieties and seed production is challenging and the pollination control of the plants necessarily intervenes. Findings/conclusions: Out of 23 assessed papaya lines, only 43.48 % reported outstanding plants. Inside these lines, between 5 and 10 % of the plants were chosen. In the developmental progress from the covered flower buds’ stage to formed and collected fruits, only 28 % of fruits were obtained. The selected lines showed fruit variability

Genetic transformation of Paulownia elongata S. Y. Hu., mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens and biolistic system

Objective: The most appropriate conditions for genetic transformation through direct (bioballistic) and indirect (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) transformation systems in Paulownia elongata were established. Design/methodology/approach: Starting from in vitro propagation through both direct and indirect organogenesis, internodal stem segments with 0.5 to 1 cm length were determined as the best explant. The optimum dose for selection media was determined to be 15 mg L-1 of kanamycin. It was possible to obtain transgenic plants under both transformation systems. In the case of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, two hours of incubation, 48 h of co-cultivation, and optical density of 0.9 were used; while for bioballistics, the best conditions were 120 PSI of shot pressure, shot height at level 6 (16 cm), and vacuum pressure of 22 Hg mm, with particle inflow gun system (PIG). Results: Both systems produced complete transformants, chimeras, as well as those confirmed by histochemical X-GLUC and PCR analysis, producing a total of 14 positive plants by A. tumefaciens transformation from 26 trials and ten positive plants by the bioballistic system from 30 trials; a construction with chitinase and glucanase, NPT II selection gene and the GUS reporter gene were used. Findings/conclusions: So far, this has been the first report including integration of chitinase and glucanase genes

Dosimetry and radio-stimulation in mesquite (Neltuma laevigata W.) seeds

Objective: The research focused on a germination response in Mezquite (Neltuma laevigata) using gamma radiation (Cobalt 60) at different doses aiming to obtain a greater germination response than a non-irradiated seed. Design/methodology/approach: The seeds had different collection times and identities, a lot from Durango (10 years) and other from Hidalgo (2 months). Both lots were exposed to sixteen different doses of gamma radiation, having a control (non irradiated). Seeds were subsequently subjected to in vitro conditions using Murashige and Skoog medium. They were monitored daily for a period of two weeks to record the exact day of gemination. Results: The best treatment observed for germination stimulation radio in the provenance of the Durango batch was with 30-gray radiation increasing by 12% compared to the control, while for the batch from Hidalgo it was the one that received a radiation of 6 gray increasing 56% compared to the control. Limitations on study/implications: for this study only two different populations were evaluated and because there were differences between them, the ideal would be to work with material of the other origins. Findings/conclusions: Gamma radiation at low doses causes an increase in seed germination rate.Objective: To carry out research focused on the germination response of mesquite (Neltuma laevigata) to different doses of gamma radiation (Cobalt 60), in order to obtain a higher germination response than with a non-irradiated seed. Design/Methodology/Approach: Seeds had different collection times and identities. One set was collected in Durango (10 years) and another in Hidalgo (2 months). Both sets were exposed to sixteen different doses of gamma radiation and a control (non-irradiated); they were subsequently subjected to in vitro conditions using a Murashige and Skoog basal medium. They were monitored daily for two weeks in order to develop an accurate record of their germination. Results: The best treatment for the radio-stimulation of germination in the Durango set was observed at 30 gray (12% higher than the control). Meanwhile, the Hidalgo set received 6 gray radiation (56% higher than the control). Study Limitations/Implications: Only two different populations were evaluated for this study. Given the differences found between them, working with material from other origins would be ideal. Findings/Conclusions: Low doses of gamma radiation cause an increase in the germination rate of seeds

Birth weight and blood lipid levels in Spanish adolescents: Influence of selected APOE, APOC3 and PPARgamma2 gene polymorphisms. The AVENA Study

Es reproducción del documento publicado en http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2350-9-98Background: There is increasing evidence indicating that genes involved in certain metabolic processes of cardiovascular diseases may be of particular influence in people with low body weight at birth. We examined whether the apolipoprotein (APO) E, APOC3 and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma-2 (PPAR gamma 2) polymorphisms influence the association between low birth weight and blood lipid levels in healthy adolescents aged 13-18.5 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 502 Spanish adolescents born at term was conducted. Total (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein (apo) A and B, and lipoprotein(a) [ Lp(a)] were measured. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), TC-HDLc, TC/HDLc and apoB/apoA were calculated. Results: Low birth weight was associated with higher levels of TC, LDLc, apoB, Lp(a), TC-HDLc, TC/HDLc and apoB/apoA in males with the APOE epsilon 3 epsilon 4 genotype, whereas in females, it was associated with lower HDLc and higher TG levels. In males with the APOC3 S1/S2 genotype, low birth weight was associated with lower apoA and higher Lp(a), yet this association was not observed in females. There were no associations between low birth weight and blood lipids in any of the PPAR gamma 2 genotypes. Conclusion: The results indicate that low birth weight has a deleterious influence on lipid profile particularly in adolescents with the APOE epsilon 3/epsilon 4 genotype. These findings suggest that intrauterine environment interact with the genetic background affecting the lipid profile in later life.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI021830), the Spanish Ministry of Health, FEDER-FSE funds FIS n 00/0015, CSD grants 05/UPB32/0, 109/UPB31/03 and 13/UPB20/04, Ministerio de Educación (AP-2004-2745; EX2007-1124

Grip strength predicts cardiac adverse events in patients with cardiac disorders: an individual patient pooled meta-analysis

Objective: Grip strength is a well-characterised measure of weakness and of poor muscle performance, but there is a lack of consensus on its prognostic implications in terms of cardiac adverse events in patients with cardiac disorders. Methods: Articles were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, BioMed Central and EMBASE. The main inclusion criteria were patients with cardiac disorders (ischaemic heart disease, heart failure (HF), cardiomyopathies, valvulopathies, arrhythmias); evaluation of grip strength by handheld dynamometer; and relation between grip strength and outcomes. The endpoints of the study were cardiac death, all-cause mortality, hospital admission for HF, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and myocardial infarction (MI). Data of interest were retrieved from the articles and after contact with authors, and then pooled in an individual patient meta-analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to define predictors of outcomes. Results: Overall, 23 480 patients were included from 7 studies. The mean age was 62.3±6.9 years and 70% were male. The mean follow-up was 2.82±1.7 years. After multivariate analysis grip strength (difference of 5 kg, 5× kg) emerged as an independent predictor of cardiac death (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.89, p<0.0001), all-cause death (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.89, p<0.0001) and hospital admission for HF (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.92, p<0.0001). On the contrary, we did not find any relationship between grip strength and occurrence of MI or CVA. Conclusion: In patients with cardiac disorders, grip strength predicted cardiac death, all-cause death and hospital admission for HF. Trial registration number: CRD42015025280

Respiratory viruses detected in Mexican children younger than 5 years old with community-acquired pneumonia: a national multicenter study

Background: Acute respiratory infections are the leading cause of mortality in children worldwide, especially in developing countries. Pneumonia accounts for 16% of all deaths of children under 5 years of age and was the cause of death of 935 000 children in 2015. Despite its frequency and severity, information regarding its etiology is limited. The aim of this study was to identify respiratory viruses associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children younger than 5 years old. Methods: One thousand four hundred and four children younger than 5 years of age with a clinical and/or radiological diagnosis of CAP in 11 hospitals in Mexico were included. Nasal washes were collected, placed in viral medium, and frozen at �70 C until processing. The first 832 samples were processed using the multiplex Bio-Plex/Luminex system and the remaining 572 samples using the Anyplex multiplex RT-PCR. Clinical data regarding diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms, radiographic pattern, and risk factors were obtained and recorded. Results: Of the samples tested, 81.6% were positive for viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus (types A and B) was found in 23.7%, human enterovirus/rhinovirus in 16.6%, metapneumovirus in 5.7%, parainfluenza virus (types 1–4) in 5.5%, influenza virus (types A and B) in 3.6%, adenovirus in 2.2%, coronavirus (NL63, OC43, 229E, and HKU1) in 2.2%, and bocavirus in 0.4%. Co-infection with two or more viruses was present in 22.1%; 18.4% of the samples were negative. Using biomass for cooking, daycare attendance, absence of breastfeeding, and co-infections were found to be statistically significant risk factors for the presence of severe pneumonia. Conclusions: Respiratory syncytial virus (types A and B), human enterovirus/rhinovirus, and metapneumovirus were the respiratory viruses identified most frequently in children younger than 5 years old with CAP. Co-infection was present in an important proportion of the children

Birth weight and blood lipid levels in Spanish adolescents: Influence of selected APOE, APOC3 and PPARgamma2 gene polymorphisms. The AVENA Study

Background There is increasing evidence indicating that genes involved in certain metabolic processes of cardiovascular diseases may be of particular influence in people with low body weight at birth. We examined whether the apolipoprotein (APO) E, APOC3 and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ-2 (PPARγ2) polymorphisms influence the association between low birth weight and blood lipid levels in healthy adolescents aged 13–18.5 years. Methods A cross-sectional study of 502 Spanish adolescents born at term was conducted. Total (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein (apo) A and B, and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] were measured. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), TC-HDLc, TC/HDLc and apoB/apoA were calculated. Results Low birth weight was associated with higher levels of TC, LDLc, apoB, Lp(a), TC-HDLc, TC/HDLc and apoB/apoA in males with the APOE ε3ε4 genotype, whereas in females, it was associated with lower HDLc and higher TG levels. In males with the APOC3 S1/S2 genotype, low birth weight was associated with lower apoA and higher Lp(a), yet this association was not observed in females. There were no associations between low birth weight and blood lipids in any of the PPARγ2 genotypes. Conclusion The results indicate that low birth weight has a deleterious influence on lipid profile particularly in adolescents with the APOE ε3/ε4 genotype. These findings suggest that intrauterine environment interact with the genetic background affecting the lipid profile in later life.The AVENA study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI021830), the Spanish Ministry of Health, FEDER-FSE funds FIS n° 00/0015, CSD grants 05/UPB32/0, 109/UPB31/03 and 13/UPB20/04, the Spanish Ministry of Education (AP-2004-2745; EX-2007-1124), scholarships from Panrico S.A., Madaus S.A. and Procter and Gamble S.A

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO