Genetic Identity and Diversity of Apple Accessions within a Candidate Collection for the Norwegian National Clonal Germplasm Repository

In order to best conserve, as well as utilize, traditional apple germplasm in Norway, an apple heritage cultivar collection was established in Ullensvang, western Norway, which aims to become the National Clonal Germplasm Repository. The establishment of the apple heritage cultivar collection was preceded by a molecular study that aimed to genotype a large number of apple accessions maintained in various ex situ sites in western and south-eastern Norway, using a rather small set of eight SSR markers. However limited, the marker set managed to identify synonyms, homonyms, and duplicates within and among the investigated collections. In this study, 171 apple accessions from the Ullensvang apple heritage cultivar collection were genotyped using a set of 20 different SSR markers. Approximately half of the accessions have been previously genotyped using eight SSR markers, enabling an assessment of whether the use of a larger marker set would yield a more accurate characterization. Based on the obtained molecular data, the apple heritage cultivar collection was determined to hold a key part of the overall genetic diversity of the Norwegian apple germplasm. Furthermore, the twelve additional SSR markers were able to differentiate several accessions groups originally thought to be synonyms, as well as to provide a more detailed insight into the genetic structure of this germplasm. © 2022 by the authors

Molecular characterization of old local grapevine varieties from South East European countries

South East European (SEE) viticulture partially relies on native grapevine varieties, previously scarcely described. In order to characterize old local grapevine varieties and assess the level of synonymy and genetic diversity from SEE countries, we described and genotyped 122 accessions from Albania, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Romania on nine most commonly used microsatellite loci. As a result of the study a total of 86 different genotypes were identified. All loci were very polymorphic and a total of 96 alleles were detected, ranging from 8 to 14 alleles per locus, with an average allele number of 10.67. Overall observed heterozygosity was 0.759 and slightly lower than expected (0.789) while gene diversity per locus varied between 0.600 (VVMD27) and 0.906 (VVMD28). Eleven cases of synonymy and three of homonymy have been recorded for samples harvested from different countries. Cultivars with identical genotypes were mostly detected between neighboring countries. No clear differentiation between countries was detected although several specific alleles were detected. The integration of the obtained genetic data with ampelographic ones is very important for accurate identification of the SEE cultivars and provides a significant tool in cultivar preservation and utilization.

Genetic assessment of the pomological classification of plum Prunus domestica L. accessions sampled across Europe

The genotyping of European fruit tree collections has helped to identify synonyms, determine parentage, reveal key specimens in the collections and provide information on the development of modern cultivars from one or several progenitors. However, studies on European plum Prunus domestica have been lagging behind, mainly because of the hexaploid chromosome number. In this co-operative study, 104 accessions conserved by 14 partners across Europe were phenotyped for 20 descriptors, and genotyped for 8 SSR loci together with 8 reference cultivars. Based on the descriptors as well as additional information supplied by the partners, as well as the scientific and horticultural literature, each accession was assigned to one of six pomological groups; (1) egg plums sensu lato (E), (2) prunes of the French d’Agen type (P/A), (3) prunes of the Central-Southeast European Zwetschen type (P/Z), (4) greengages (G), (5) mirabelles (M) and (6) bullaces, damsons and var. pomariorum (D/B). A MANOVA conducted on descriptor data revealed significant differentiation among the pomological groups as well as a geographic impact on the differentiation of local plum accessions in Europe. SSR data showed that two trios and seven pairs of genotypes had very similar allele profiles and possibly are genetically identical in spite of different accession names. An AMOVA indicated sparse genetic differentiation when accessions were grouped according to geographic origin whereas significant differences were obtained among pomological groups. A Bayesian analysis of genetic structure, as well as a discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), further revealed levels of similarity among and within the different pomological groups, suggesting that egg plums sensu lato (E) and greengages (G) can be referred to subsp. domestica while damsons and bullaces (D/B) but also Central-Southeast European prunes (P/Z) show more affinity to subsp. insititia. The small and possibly heterogeneous groups with mirabelles (M) and prunes of the d’Agen type (P/A) take an intermediate position suggesting a hybridogenic origin

Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study)

Background: This study provides a global overview of the management of patients with acute cholecystitis during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: CHOLECOVID is an international, multicentre, observational comparative study of patients admitted to hospital with acute cholecystitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on management were collected for a 2-month study interval coincident with the WHO declaration of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared with an equivalent pre-pandemic time interval. Mediation analysis examined the influence of SARS-COV-2 infection on 30-day mortality. Results: This study collected data on 9783 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to 247 hospitals across the world. The pandemic was associated with reduced availability of surgical workforce and operating facilities globally, a significant shift to worse severity of disease, and increased use of conservative management. There was a reduction (both absolute and proportionate) in the number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 3095 patients (56.2 per cent) pre-pandemic to 1998 patients (46.2 per cent) during the pandemic but there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality after cholecystectomy comparing the pre-pandemic interval with the pandemic (13 patients (0.4 per cent) pre-pandemic to 13 patients (0.6 per cent) pandemic; P = 0.355). In mediation analysis, an admission with acute cholecystitis during the pandemic was associated with a non-significant increased risk of death (OR 1.29, 95 per cent c.i. 0.93 to 1.79, P = 0.121). Conclusion: CHOLECOVID provides a unique overview of the treatment of patients with cholecystitis across the globe during the first months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The study highlights the need for system resilience in retention of elective surgical activity. Cholecystectomy was associated with a low risk of mortality and deferral of treatment results in an increase in avoidable morbidity that represents the non-COVID cost of this pandemic

Androgen receptor gene status in plasma DNA associates with worse outcome on enzalutamide or abiraterone for castration-resistant prostate cancer: a multi-institution correlative biomarker study

2632A>G (p.T878A)] were observed in eight (11%) post-docetaxel but no chemotherapy-naı¨ve abiraterone-treated patients and were also associated with worse OS (HR 3.26; 95% CI 1.47-not reached; P¼0.004). There was no interaction between AR and docetaxel status (P¼0.83 for OS, P¼0.99 for PFS). In the PREMIERE trial, 11 patients (12%) with AR gain had worse PSA-PFS (sPFS) (HR 4.33; 95% CI 1.94-9.68; PA (p.L702H) and 520 3

Androgen receptor gene status in plasma DNA associates with worse outcome on enzalutamide or abiraterone for castration-resistant prostate cancer: a multi-institution correlative biomarker study.

Background There is an urgent need to identify biomarkers to guide personalized therapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We aimed to clinically qualify androgen receptor (AR) gene status measurement in plasma DNA using multiplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in pre- and post-chemotherapy CRPC.Methods We optimized ddPCR assays for AR copy number and mutations and retrospectively analyzed plasma DNA from patients recruited to one of the three biomarker protocols with prospectively collected clinical data. We evaluated associations between plasma AR and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in 73 chemotherapy-naïve and 98 post-docetaxel CRPC patients treated with enzalutamide or abiraterone (Primary cohort) and 94 chemotherapy-naïve patients treated with enzalutamide (Secondary cohort; PREMIERE trial).Results In the primary cohort, AR gain was observed in 10 (14%) chemotherapy-naïve and 33 (34%) post-docetaxel patients and associated with worse OS [hazard ratio (HR), 3.98; 95% CI 1.74-9.10; P A (p.L702H) and 2632A>G (p.T878A)] were observed in eight (11%) post-docetaxel but no chemotherapy-naïve abiraterone-treated patients and were also associated with worse OS (HR 3.26; 95% CI 1.47-not reached; P = 0.004). There was no interaction between AR and docetaxel status (P = 0.83 for OS, P = 0.99 for PFS). In the PREMIERE trial, 11 patients (12%) with AR gain had worse PSA-PFS (sPFS) (HR 4.33; 95% CI 1.94-9.68; P < 0.001), radiographic-PFS (rPFS) (HR 8.06; 95% CI 3.26-19.93; P < 0.001) and OS (HR 11.08; 95% CI 2.16-56.95; P = 0.004). Plasma AR was an independent predictor of outcome on multivariable analyses in both cohorts.Conclusion Plasma AR status assessment using ddPCR identifies CRPC with worse outcome to enzalutamide or abiraterone. Prospective evaluation of treatment decisions based on plasma AR is now required.Clinical trial number NCT02288936 (PREMIERE trial)

Evaluation Of Textile Materials In Physical Activity

This paper "Evaluation of Textile Materials in Physical Activity" compared how the different properties of fibers, such as cotton and polyamide 6.6, affect the sport performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical performance improvement during the physical activities due to the use of clothing made of high-technology fabrics. For this comparative study, two raw materials were chosen, cotton and polyamide 6.6, and, through the properties of these samples, the behavior of these fabrics was studied by comparing them. Polyamide 6.6 fabric presented a small loss of body temperature during the physical activity when compared to cotton fabric. The existence of a significant correlation between the body temperature and the lactate index reduction was proved by this study. Such correlation showed the importance of body temperature variation during an activity performance; the lower is this variation, the greater is the reduction in the lactate index. Currently, modified polyamides allow the fabric to interact with human body by emitting an infrared, retarding muscle fatigue and improving skin elasticity. Copyright © 2009, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.1717831788Association Française De Normalization. 1985. NFG 07.101Longuer de Fil Absorbée. Paris, 7pBogaty, H., Hollies, N.R.S., Harris, M., Some Thermal Properties of Fabrics (1957) Textile Research Journal, pp. 445-449. , DOI: 101177/ 004051755702700605, junCampos, Marco Siqueira. 2003. Desvendando o Minitab. Rio de Janeiro: Ed. Qualitymark, p. 147-178, 183-191Costa Neto, Pedro Luiz de Oliveira. 1977. Estatística. São Paulo: Ed. Edgard Blücher, p. 84-120, 145-146, 181-188Crow, Rita M. 1994. Moisture Properties of Textiles. Art. publ. in Sixth International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics. Canada: J. Frim, M. B. Ducharme & P. Tikuisis,p. 104-105Fourt, LymanHollies, Norman. 1970. Clothing Comfort and Function. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc., p. 31-45, 115-150 123, 133, 172Gystad, TrudeBakkevig, Martha K. 1994. Correlation between Different Formulas for Mean Skin Temperature and Thermal Comfort. Art. publ. in Sixth International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics. Canada: J. Frim, M. B. Ducharme & P. Tikuisis, p. 162-163Havenith, G., (1999) Heat Balance When Wearing Protective Clothing, pp. 289-296. , England: Elsevier Science Ltd, pHavenith, George. 2000. Individualized Model of Human Thermoregulation for the Simulation of Heat Stress Response. TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg 3769ZG, The Netherlandsand Human Thermal Environments Laboratory, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom, p. 1.943, 1.946-1952Consultoria, K., Técnica, A., Implementation of the study. Execução do estudo RD001-06 (2007) Valinhos, , 52p(1994) ISO 7730, Moderate Thermal Environments-Determination of the PMV and PPD Indices and Specification of the Conditions for Thermal Comfort, , International Organization for Standardization, Geneva(1983) Manual de dados técnicos para a indústria têxtil, pp. 40-45. , Instituto De Pesquisas Tecnológicas IPT, Publ. IPT no 1.257. São Paulo, pMarinho, Jean Richard Dasnoy (2005), pp. 28-30,56-57,230-231. , Macromoléculas e Polímeros. Barueri: EdMarck, H.F., High Technology Fibers (1985) Nova Iorque: Menachem Lewin, pp. 176-183Meinander, Harriet. 1992. Determination of Clothing Comfort Properties with the Sweating Thermal Manikin. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics. Netherlands: W. A. Lotens and G. Havenith, p. 40-41Swerev, Dr, Maximilian, Innovative Bandages for the Treatment of Wounds (2002) 41st International Chemical Fibre Conference, , Dornbirn: Hohenstein Institute International Textile Research CentreTebexreni, A.S., (2004) O Papel do Lactato no Exercício, , Artigo do Laboratório Fleury, publ. Revista CorporeTextile Institute. 2005. Textiles in Sport. Cambridge, Inglaterra: Ed. R. Shishoo, p. 93, 177, 178, 289-29