Variation, heritability, and gain in open-pollinated progeny plantations of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana Mill.)

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the genetic and environmental sources of variation in height, diameter, and volume per tree. Ten-year data from open-pollinated progeny of random trees from 12 natural stands in Tennessee and Kentucky were analyzed. The data were measurements of individual progeny from 128 half-sib families outplanted at three locations in Tennessee. Individual location analyses indicated that variance components for each source of variation, expressed as a percent of the total variation, were relatively similar from location to location. However, the family-within-stand , 2 » . F/S variance component was consistently lower at the Camp York location, probably due to the site heterogeneity evident at this location. Generally, the variance components in the combined location analyses are similar in magnitude to those in the individual analyses. Direct comparisons between the two types of analyses are not strictly valid since the combined analyses are based on different niombers of stands and families-within-stand than those of the individual location analyses. The two levels of genotype x environment interactions, location by stand and location by family-within-stands 111IV accounted for only a small amount of the phenotypic variation; the sum of the interaction components accounted for less than 1.5 percent of the phenotypic variance. When compared with two- and five-year estimates, ten-year heritability estimates were smaller at Camp York and the Highland Rim locations, and were the same or larger at the Ames Plantation location. Heritability estimates derived from the combined location analyses were in close agreement with the average of estimates derived from the three individual locations; average heritability estimates from the individual location analyses were within a standard error of the heritability estimates from the combined location analyses. Expected gains were computed on the basis of a hypothetical roguing of each plantation using three selection schemes. Gains from a three-stage system, which include stand, family-within-stands, and within-family selection, ranged from 16.1 to 22.4 percent over mean unselected stem volume. Gains from two-stage selection provided the largest gain in stem volume at all locations. Gains ranged from 22.3 to 30.6 percent over mean unselected stem volume. Mass selection resulted in gains ranging from 6.1 to 10.3 percent. Two of the plantations, Ames Plantation and Camp York, were actually rogued using the two-stage selection system.V Expected gains above the mean unselected population were 29.9 percent at Ames Plantation and 18.0 percent at Camp York

Schatzki's Ring in Angelman Syndrome: A Diagnostic Dilemma in Neurodevelopmentally Disabled Patients

Angelman Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition with a characteristic phenotype that includes epilepsy and lack of communication. We describe its first reported association with Schatzki's ring that presented as a life-long history of intermittent retching. Because of associated cognitive dysfunction, careful diagnostic consideration is required to detect this underlying condition

Alternative off school Business Models that Enhance Multiple Intelligences in Kenyan Schools

Promotion of individual development and self-fulfillment amongst students in Kenya is among the national goals of education. To accomplish this goal it is imperative that, development of Multiple Intelligences in schools is put into perspective. To date, relatively little research has investigated the ways students Multiple Intelligences should be enhanced in Kenya. Consequently, this study was devised to examine alternative off school business management models that enhance Multiple Intelligences among secondary students in Kenya. The study was guided by the Multiple Intelligence Theory and Management Competency Framework. The study target population was 150 secondary schools in Elgeyo Marakwet. Data was collected using questionnaire, document analysis and interview. The data was analyzed qualitatively using thematic approach and quantitatively using percentages, means, standard deviation and simple linear regression. Data was presented in tables. The findings indicated that schools management was managing traditional models of enhancing multiple intelligences thus majority of the students’ abilities were not developed. Alternative off school business management models were found to be effective in enhancing multiple intelligences among students though majority of the schools had not adopted them. The study recommends that managing and facilitating entrepreneurship programmes should be promoted to enable students to show case abilities in different intelligences

Tunable, Highly Stable Lasers for Coherent Lidar

Practical space-based coherent laser radar systems envisioned for global winds measurement must be very efficient and must contend with unique problems associated with the large platform velocities that the instruments experience in orbit. To compensate for these large platform-induced Doppler shifts in space-based applications, agile-frequency offset-locking of two single-frequency Doppler reference lasers was thoroughly investigated. Such techniques involve actively locking a frequency-agile master oscillator (MO) source to a comparatively static local oscillator (LO) laser, and effectively producing an offset between MO (the lidar slave oscillator seed source, typically) and heterodyne signal receiver LO that lowers the bandwidth of the receiver data-collection system and permits use of very high-quantum-efficiency, reasonably- low-bandwidth heterodyne photoreceiver detectors and circuits. Recent work on MO/LO offset locking has focused on increasing the offset locking range, improving the graded-InGaAs photoreceiver performance, and advancing the maturity of the offset locking electronics. A figure provides a schematic diagram of the offset-locking system

The Singing Hills

Photograph of Blue Barron; Illustration of hills and stars in backgroundhttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/11200/thumbnail.jp

Curing Hepatitis C in Liver Transplant Recipients Is Associated with Changes in Immunosuppressant Use.

Background and aimsAll-oral interferon-free antivirals are highly effective in treating recurrent hepatitis C (HCV) infection in liver transplant (LT) recipients. The aim of the study was to assess immunosuppression needs after achieving a sustained viral response (SVR).MethodsWe compared immunosuppression needs before and after achieving a SVR in adult LT recipients treated for recurrent HCV infection with all-oral direct acting agents.ResultsWe identified 52 liver LT treated recipients who achieved a SVR. The median (25th and 75th percentile interquartile range [IQR]) age was 62 years (57.75, 65). Most recipients received tacrolimus (TAC) for their immunosuppressant regimen. After achieving SVR, there was no statistically significant difference in daily dose of TAC unadjusted per weight (p > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant decrease in daily dose of TAC adjusted per weight, serum levels of TAC, and the product of glomerular filtration rate and TAC. No statistically significant differences in cyclosporine unadjusted/adjusted per weight daily dose or serum levels were noted.ConclusionsImmunosuppression needs were increased for those patients treated with TAC but not cyclosporine. LT recipients prescribed TAC require close monitoring after treatment completion to avoid potential risk of acute rejection

There Must Be A Way

Photograph of Charlie Spivak; Red and white striped backgroundhttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/11156/thumbnail.jp

Late widespread skeletal metastases from myxoid liposarcoma detected by MRI only

Background Myxoid liposarcoma is the second most commonly occurring sub-type of liposarcomas. In contrast to other soft tissue sarcomas, it is known to have a tendency to spread toward extrapulmonary sites, such as soft tissues, retroperitoneum, and the peritoneal surface. Bony spread, however, is not as common. Case presentation We report an unusual case of diffuse skeletal metastases from myxoid liposarcoma occurring 13 years after treatment of the primary tumour in the left lower limb. The skeletal spread of the disease was demonstrated on MRI only after other imaging modalities (plain radiography, CT and TC99 bone scans) had failed to detect these metastases. Conclusion MRI is an extremely sensitive and specific screening tool in the detection of skeletal involvement in these types of sarcomas, and therefore, should be a part of the staging proces

Behavioral and Other Phenotypes in a Cytoplasmic Dynein Light Intermediate Chain 1 Mutant Mouse

The cytoplasmic dynein complex is fundamentally important to all eukaryotic cells for transporting a variety of essential cargoes along microtubules within the cell. This complex also plays more specialized roles in neurons. The complex consists of 11 types of protein that interact with each other and with external adaptors, regulators and cargoes. Despite the importance of the cytoplasmic dynein complex, we know comparatively little of the roles of each component protein, and in mammals few mutants exist that allow us to explore the effects of defects in dynein-controlled processes in the context of the whole organism. Here we have taken a genotype-driven approach in mouse (Mus musculus) to analyze the role of one subunit, the dynein light intermediate chain 1 (Dync1li1). We find that, surprisingly, an N235Y point mutation in this protein results in altered neuronal development, as shown from in vivo studies in the developing cortex, and analyses of electrophysiological function. Moreover, mutant mice display increased anxiety, thus linking dynein functions to a behavioral phenotype in mammals for the first time. These results demonstrate the important role that dynein-controlled processes play in the correct development and function of the mammalian nervous system

Pregnancy-related mortality up to 1 year postpartum in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of verbal autopsy data from six countries

Objective: To compare the causes of death for women who died during pregnancy and within the first 42 days postpartum with those of women who died between \u3e42 days and within 1 year postpartum. Design: Open population cohort (Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems). Setting: Ten Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) in The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa. Population: 2114 deaths which occurred within 1 year of the end of pregnancy where a verbal autopsy interview was conducted from 2000 to 2019. Methods: InterVA5 and InSilicoVA verbal autopsy algorithms were used to at-tribute the most likely underlying cause of death, which were grouped according to adapted International Classification of Diseases-Maternal Mortality categories. Multinomial regression was used to compare differences in causes of deaths within42 days versus 43–365 days postpartum adjusting for HDSS and time period (2000– 2009 and 2010–2019). Main outcome measures: Cause of death and the verbal autopsy Circumstances of Mortality Categories (COMCATs). Results: Of 2114 deaths, 1212 deaths occurred within 42 days postpartum and 902 be-tween 43 and 365 days postpartum. Compared with deaths within 42 days, deaths from HIV and TB, other infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases constituted a significantly larger proportion of late pregnancy-related deaths beyond 42 days postpar-tum, and health system failures were important in the circumstances of those deaths. The contribution of HIV and TB to deaths beyond 42 days postpartum was greatest in Southern Africa. The causes of pregnancy-related mortality within and beyond 42 days postpartum did not change significantly between 2000–2009 and 2010–2019. Conclusions: Cause of death data from the extended postpartum period are critical to in-form prevention. The dominance of HIV and TB, other infectious and non-communicable diseases to (late) pregnancy-related mortality highlights the need for better integration of non-obstetric care with ante-, intra- and postpartum care in high-burden setting