Seed viability, germination and seedling growth of canola (Brassica napus L.) as influenced by chemical mutagens

Mutation induction is considered as an effective way to enrich plant genetic variation, particularly for traits with a very low level of genetic variation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of different dosages of chemical mutagens on seed germination, seed viability and seedling growth characteristics and to identify optimum treatment conditions for chemical mutagens based on the LD50 criterion in canola (Brassica napus L.). Two pretreatment conditions of soaking in distilled water and non-soaking, different concentrations of chemical mutagens, and four treatment periods were investigated. The effect of mutagen dosage on seed viability was also assessed using the tetrazolium staining test. Results revealed the significant effects of mutagen dosages and treatment periods on seed viability and seed germination as well as on seedling characteristics for all the mutagens tested. Additionally, it was found that increased dosage and period in each treatment led to significant reductions in seed viability for the tested mutagens. Pretreatment did not significantly influence most of the studied characteristics. The 0.8% ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) for 6 h, 12 mM N-nitroso-Nethylurea (ENU) and 6 mM sodium azide for 8 h and 9 mM N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) for 4 h were considered as optimum treatment conditions.Key words: Brassica napus, canola, chemical mutagen, germination, seed viability, seedling growth

Clinical trial of a low-cost external fixator for global surgery use

PURPOSE: A low-cost modular external fixator for the lower limb has been developed for global surgery use. The purpose of this study is to assess outcome measures in the first clinical use of the device. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted with patients recruited in two trauma hospitals. Initial clinical procedure data were collected, and patients were followed up every two weeks until 12 weeks or definitive fixation. Follow-up assessed infection, stability, and radiographic outcomes. In addition, patient-reported outcomes and surgeons' feedback on device usability were collected by questionnaires. RESULTS: The external fixator was used on 17 patients. Ten were mono-lateral, five were joint spanning, and two were delta configuration. One patient had a pin site infection at 12-week follow-up. All were stable when tested mechanically and using radiographic assessment, and 53% were converted to definitive fixation. CONCLUSION: The low-cost external fixator developed is appropriate for use in global surgery trauma centres with good clinical outcomes. PROSPECTIVE TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND DATE: SLCTR/2021/025 (06 Sep 2021)

Low-cost locally manufacturable unilateral imperial external fixator for low- and middle-income countries

Treating open fractures in long bones can be challenging and if not performed properly can lead to poor outcomes such as mal/non-union, deformity, and amputation. One of the most common methods of treating these fracture types is temporary external fixation followed by definitive fixation. The shortage of high-quality affordable external fixators is a long-recognised need, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This research aimed to develop a low-cost device that can be manufactured locally to international standards. This can provide surge capacity for conflict zones or in response to unpredictable incidents and situations. The fixator presented here and developed by us, the Imperial external fixator, was tested on femur and tibia specimens under 100 cycles of 100 N compression-tension and the results were compared with those of the Stryker Hoffmann 3 frame. The Imperial device was stiffer than the Stryker Hoffmann 3 with a lower median interfragmentary motion (of 0.94 vs. 1.48 mm). The low-cost, easy to use, relatively lightweight, and easy to manufacture (since minimum skillset and basic workshop equipment and materials are needed) device can address a critical shortage and need in LMICs particularly in conflict-affected regions with unpredictable demand and supply. The device is currently being piloted in three countries for road traffic accidents, gunshot wounds and other conflict trauma—including blast cohorts

Genetic analysis of some agronomic traits in flax.

Abstract A complete diallel cross using eight flax genotypes including four Iranian breeding lines and four Canadian genotypes was carried out to estimate genetic parameters for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, seed yield per plant, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and harvest index. Analysis of variances for the studied traits indicated highly significant differences among the genotypes. Significant general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and reciprocal effects revealed meaningful contributions of additive, non-additive type of gene actions and maternal influence in governing the traits. The results showed that additive gene actions had greater effects on inheritance of days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, primary branches per plant and 1000-seed weight. However, number of capsules per plant and number of seeds per capsule were largely controlled by dominance genetic effects, whereas both additive and non-additive gene actions were important in genetic control of harvest index, seed yield per plant and seed yield. The parental lines KH124, KO37, AH92 and SE65 exhibited positive and significant GCA effect on both seed yield per plant and seed yield. Parent KO37 also had the highest negative GCA for early flowering, early maturity and plant height. A considerable heterosis was also observed for the studied traits in some cross combinations and the highest heterobeltiosis values of 64.1, 35.2, 21.6, 77.2 and 91.3% were obtained for number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per plant and seed yield, respectively. These results imply the potential of producing superior cultivars through selection in segregating populations or heterosis breeding, providing that the technical problems hampering economical production of hybrid seeds in flax could be overcome

Successful Supercooled Liver Storage for 4 Days

The realization of long–term human organ preservation will have groundbreaking effects on the current practice of transplantation. Herein we present a novel technique based on sub–zero non–freezing tissue preservation and extracorporeal machine perfusion that allows transplantation of rat livers preserved for up to 4 days, thereby tripling the viable preservation duration

MAB21L1 loss of function causes a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder with distinctive cerebellar, ocular, craniofacial and genital features (COFG syndrome).

BACKGROUND: Putative nucleotidyltransferase MAB21L1 is a member of an evolutionarily well-conserved family of the male abnormal 21 (MAB21)-like proteins. Little is known about the biochemical function of the protein; however, prior studies have shown essential roles for several aspects of embryonic development including the eye, midbrain, neural tube and reproductive organs. OBJECTIVE: A homozygous truncating variant in MAB21L1 has recently been described in a male affected by intellectual disability, scrotal agenesis, ophthalmological anomalies, cerebellar hypoplasia and facial dysmorphism. We employed a combination of exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping to identify the underlying genetic cause in subjects with similar phenotypic features descending from five unrelated consanguineous families. RESULTS: We identified four homozygous MAB21L1 loss of function variants (p.Glu281fs*20, p.Arg287Glufs*14 p.Tyr280* and p.Ser93Serfs*48) and one missense variant (p.Gln233Pro) in 10 affected individuals from 5 consanguineous families with a distinctive autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome. Cardinal features of this syndrome include a characteristic facial gestalt, corneal dystrophy, hairy nipples, underdeveloped labioscrotal folds and scrotum/scrotal agenesis as well as cerebellar hypoplasia with ataxia and variable microcephaly. CONCLUSION: This report defines an ultrarare but clinically recognisable Cerebello-Oculo-Facio-Genital syndrome associated with recessive MAB21L1 variants. Additionally, our findings further support the critical role of MAB21L1 in cerebellum, lens, genitalia and as craniofacial morphogenesis

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of systems and synthetic biology constructs using P systems

YesComputational models are perceived as an attractive alternative to mathematical models (e.g., ordinary differential equations). These models incorporate a set of methods for specifying, modeling, testing, and simulating biological systems. In addition, they can be analyzed using algorithmic techniques (e.g., formal verification). This paper shows how formal verification is utilized in systems and synthetic biology through qualitative vs quantitative analysis. Here, we choose two well-known case studies: quorum sensing in P. aeruginosas and pulse generator. The paper reports verification analysis of two systems carried out using some model checking tools, integrated to the Infobiotics Workbench platform, where system models are based on stochastic P systems.EPSR