Genome-Wide Linkage Analysis to Identify Chromosomal Regions Affecting Phenotypic Traits in the Chicken. I. Growth and Average Daily Gain

Two informative chicken F2 populations based on crosses between a broiler breeder male line and dams from genetically distinct, highly inbred (\u3e99%) chicken lines, the Leghorn G-B2 and Fayoumi M15.2, have been used for genome-wide linkage and QTL analysis. Phenotypic data on 12 body composition traits (breast muscle weight, breast muscle weight percentage, abdominal fat weight, abdominal fat weight percentage, heart weight, heart weight percentage, liver weight, liver weight percentage, spleen weight, spleen weight percentage, and drumstick weight, and drumstick weight percentage) were collected. Birds were genotyped for 269 microsatellite markers across the genome. The QTL Express program was used to detect QTL for body composition traits. Significant levels were obtained using the permutation test. For the twelve traits, a total of 61 (Gga 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 24, and Z) and 45 (Gga 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, and E46) significant QTL were detected at the 5% chromosome-wise significance level, of which 19 and 11 were significant at the 5% genome-wise level for the broiler-Leghorn cross and broiler-Fayoumi cross, respectively. Phenotypic variation for each trait explained by all QTL across the genome ranged from 3.22 to 33.31% in the broiler-Leghorn cross and 4.83 to 47.12% in broiler-Fayoumi cross. Distinct QTL profiles between the 2 crosses were observed for most traits. Cryptic alleles were detected for each trait. Potential candidate genes within the QTL region for body composition traits at the 1% chromosome-wise significance level were identified from databases for future association study. The results of the current study will increase the knowledge of genetic markers associated with body composition traits and aid the process of identifying causative genes. Knowledge of beneficial genetic variation can be incorporated in breeding programs to enhance genetic improvement through marker-assisted selection in chickens

Genome-Wide Linkage Analysis to Identify Chromosomal Regions Affecting Phenotypic Traits in the Chicken. II. Body Composition

The current study is a comprehensive genome analysis to detect QTL affecting metabolic traits in chickens. Two unique F2 crosses generated from a commercial broiler male line and 2 genetically distinct inbred lines (Leghorn and Fayoumi) were used in the present study. The plasma glucagon, insulin, lactate, glucose, tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine, insulin-like growth factor I, and insulin-like growth factor II concentrations at 8 wk were measured in the 2 F2 crosses. Birds were genotyped for 269 microsatellite markers across the entire genome. The program QTL Express was used for QTL detection. Significance levels were obtained using the permutation test. For the 10 traits, a total of 6 and 9 significant QTL were detected at a 1% chromosome-wise significance level, of which 1 and 6 were significant at the 5% genome-wise level for the broiler-Leghorn cross and broiler-Fayoumi cross, respectively. Most QTL for metabolic traits in the present study were detected in Gga 2, 6, 8, 9, 13, and Z for the broiler-Leghorn cross and Gga 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 17, and E47 for the broiler-Fayoumi cross. Phenotypic variation for each trait explained by all QTL across genome ranged from 2.73 to 14.08% in the broiler-Leghorn cross and from 6.93 to 21.15% in the broiler-Fayoumi cross. Several positional candidate genes within the QTL region for metabolic traits at the 1% chromosome-wise significance level are biologically associated with the regulation of metabolic pathways of insulin, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine

Genome-Wide Linkage Analysis to Identify Chromosomal Regions Affecting Phenotypic Traits in the Chicken. III. Skeletal Integrity

Two unique chicken F2 populations generated from a broiler breeder male line and 2 genetically distinct inbred (\u3e99%) chicken lines (Leghorn and Fayoumi) were used for whole genome QTL analysis. Twelve phenotypic skeletal integrity traits (6 absolute and 6 relative traits) were measured or calculated, including bone mineral content, bone mineral density, tibia length, shank length, shank weight, and shank length:shank weight. All traits were also expressed as a percentage of BW at 8 wk of age. Birds were genotyped for 269 microsatellite markers across the entire genome. The QTL affecting bone traits in chickens were detected by the QTL express program. Significance levels were obtained using the permutation test. For the 12 traits, a total of 56 significant QTL were detected at the 5% chromosome-wise significance level, of which 14 and 10 were significant at the 5% genome-wise level for the broiler-Leghorn cross and broiler-Fayoumi cross, respectively. Phenotypic variation for each trait explained by all detected QTL across the genome ranged from 12.0 to 35.6% in the broiler-Leghorn cross and 2.9 to 31.3% in the broiler-Fayoumi cross. Different QTL profiles identified between the 2 related F2 crosses for most traits suggested that genetic background is an important factor for QTL analysis. Study of associations of biological candidate genes with skeletal integrity traits in chickens will reveal new knowledge of understanding biological process of skeletal homeostasis. The results of the current study have identified markers for bone strength traits, which may be used to genetically improve skeletal integrity in chickens by MAS, and to identify the causal genes for these traits

Phenotypic Characterization, Osteoblastic Differentiation, and Bone Regeneration Capacity of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

To enhance the understanding of differentiation patterns and bone formation capacity of hESCs, we determined (1) the temporal pattern of osteoblastic differentiation of human embryonic stem cell derived mesenchymal stem cells (hESC-MSCs), (2) the influence of a three-dimensional matrix on the osteogenic differentiation of hESC-MSCs in long-term culture, and (3) the bone-forming capacity of osteoblast-like cells derived from hESC-MSCs in calvarial defects. Incubation of hESC-MSCs in osteogenic medium induced osteoblastic differentiation of hESC-MSCs into mature osteoblasts in a similar chronological pattern to human bone marrow stromal cells and primary osteoblasts. Osteogenic differentiation was enhanced by culturing the cells on three-dimensional collagen scaffolds. Fluorescent-activated cell sorting of alkaline phosphatase expressing cells was used to obtain an enriched osteogenic cell population for in vivo transplantation. The identification of green fluorescence protein and expression of human-specific nuclear antigen in osteocytes in newly formed bone verified the role of transplanted human cells in the bone regeneration process. The current cell culture model and osteogenic cell enrichment method could provide large numbers of osteoprogenitor cells for analysis of differentiation patterns and cell transplantation to regenerate skeletal defects.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78154/1/scd.2008.0310.pd

Nova light curves from the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) - II. The extended catalogue

We present the results from observing nine Galactic novae in eruption with the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) between 2004 and 2009. While many of these novae reached peak magnitudes that were either at or approaching the detection limits of SMEI, we were still able to produce light curves that in many cases contained more data at and around the initial rise, peak, and decline than those found in other variable star catalogs. For each nova, we obtained a peak time, maximum magnitude, and for several an estimate of the decline time (t2). Interestingly, although of lower quality than those found in Hounsell et al. (2010a), two of the light curves may indicate the presence of a pre-maximum halt. In addition the high cadence of the SMEI instrument has allowed the detection of low amplitude variations in at least one of the nova light curves

Homeopathy for depression: a systematic review of the research evidence

Objective: To systematically review the research evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for the treatment of depression and depressive disorders. Methods: A comprehensive search of major biomedical databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClNAHL, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Specialist complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) databases including AMED, CISCOM and Hom-Inform were also searched. Additionally, efforts were made to identify unpublished and ongoing research using relevant sources and experts in the field. Relevant research was categorised by study type and appraised according to study design. Clinical commentaries were obtained for studies reporting clinical outcomes. Results: Only two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. One of these, a feasibility study, demonstrated problems with recruitment of patients in primary care. Several uncontrolled and observational studies have reported positive results including high levels of patient satisfaction but because of the lack of a control group, it is difficult to assess the extent to which any response is due to specific effects of homeopathy. Single case reports/studies were the most frequently encountered clinical study type. We also found surveys, but no relevant qualitative research studies were located. Adverse effects reported appear limited to 'remedy reactions' ('aggravations') including temporary worsening of symptoms, symptom shifts and reappearance of old symptoms. These remedy reactions were generally transient but in one study, aggravation of symptoms caused withdrawal of the treatment in one patient. Conclusions: A comprehensive search for published and unpublished studies has demonstrated that the evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathy in depression is limited due to lack of clinical trials of high quality. Further research is required, and should include well designed controlled studies with sufficient numbers of participants. Qualitative studies aimed at overcoming recruitment and other problems should precede further RCTs. Methodological options include the incorporation of preference arms or uncontrolled observational studies. The highly individualised nature of much homeopathic treatment and the specificity of response may require innovative methods of analysis of individual treatment response

The NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA): The Demo

This paper describes the services available at the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA). Currently there are nearly 250,000 data requests a month, taking advantage of IRSA's data repository which includes 660 million sources (60 catalogs), 10 million images (22 image sets; 10.4 TB) and over 30,000 spectra (7 spectroscopic datasets). These data are the science products of: The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), The Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX), The Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS), The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), The Infrared Telescope in Space (IRTS), The Spitzer First Look Survey (FLS), Spitzer Legacy & Ancillary data, Spitzer Reserved Observations (ROC) and the Spitzer Space Telescope data. IRSA is also seamlessly interoperable with ten remote archives and services: GOODS, ISO, MAST, VizieR, DSS, NVSS, FIRST, HEASARC, NED and JPL, which help expand the available dataset wavelength range from X-ray to radio. The majority of IRSA's image collections are Simple Image Access (SIA) compliant and are available through the Virtual Observatory (VO) data mining tools. The IRSA demo includes IRSA's ¯ve main services: inventory service RADAR, catalog query service Gator, data fusion service OASIS, general search service for complex data collections Atlas, and IRSA's 2MASS Image data access services. IRSA's website is http://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu

Consumption of endophyte-infected fescue seed during the dry period does not decrease milk production in the following lactation.

Ergot alkaloids in endophyte-infected grasses inhibit prolactin (PRL) secretion and may reduce milk production of cows consuming these grasses. We investigated the effects of consuming endophyte-infected fescue seed during late lactation and the dry period on mammary growth, differentiation, and milk production. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups. Starting at 90±4 d prepartum, cows were fed endophyte-free fescue seed (control; CON), endophyte-free fescue seed plus 3×/wk subcutaneous injections of bromocriptine (0.1mg/kg of body weight, positive control; BROMO), or endophyte-infected fescue seed (INF) as 10% of the diet on an as fed basis. Although milk yield of groups did not differ before treatment, at dry off (-60 d prepartum) INF and BROMO cows produced less milk than CON. Throughout the treatment period, basal concentrations of PRL and the prepartum increase in plasma PRL were reduced in INF and BROMO cows compared with CON cows. Three weeks after the end of treatment, circulating concentrations of PRL were equivalent across groups. In the subsequent lactation milk yield was not decreased; in fact, BROMO cows exhibited a 9% increase in milk yield relative to CON. Evaluation of mammary tissue during the dry period and the subsequent lactation, by quantitative histology and immunohistochemical analysis of proliferation markers and putative mammary stem or progenitor cell markers, indicated that feeding endophyte-infected fescue seed did not significantly affect mammary growth and development. Feeding endophyte-infected grasses during the dry period may permit effective utilization of feed resources without compromising milk production in the next lactation