Breeding for high grain Fe and Zn levels in cereals

Micronutrients are known to play an important role in the metabolism and physiological activities of the human body. Unfortunately, over three billion people in the world are malnourished. The development of crops with enhanced mineral concentration is one of the most sustainable and cost effective approaches for alleviating micronutrient malnutrition. This review focuses on the progress made in the genetic enhancement of element mineral concentration in crops through plant breeding strategies. Biofortification is considered as a suitable strategy of increasing the bioavailable concentrations of an element in edible portions of crop plants through traditional breeding practices or modern biotechnology to overcome the problem of micronutrient deficiencies. Therefore, the combination of conventional breeding with modern genetic engineering approaches and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis is important for developing crop cultivars with enhanced micronutrient concentrations to improve human health

Pilot evaluation of a novel unilateral onychectomy model and efficacy of an extended release buprenorphine product

Abstract Background Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), transdermal fentanyl patches, and transmucosal buprenorphine are probably the most commonly used options for providing post-operative analgesia in the early at-home period. However, these require daily administration or are associated with abuse concerns. One of the significant unmet needs in veterinary surgery and pain management is for longer acting opioids for cats to effectively bridge the gap between the in-hospital and at-home recovery periods. A proof of concept study of an extended release formulation of buprenorphine HCL (ER-Bup) was conducted using objective kinetic measures and a unilateral onychectomy model. Using a blinded, randomized, two period crossover design, four cats were allocated to control (saline) or ER-Bup (0.6 mg/kg, subcutaneously [SC]) treatment groups. All animals underwent a unilateral forelimb onychectomy per period with a washout/recovery period in between. Observational pain scores and kinetic data (using a pressure sensitive walkway [PSW]) were collected prior to (baseline) and at intervals for 72 h following surgery. Symmetry indices were derived for kinetic variables (peak vertical force [PVF]; vertical impulse [VI]) of each forelimb for landing following a jump and for walking. A rescue analgesic protocol was in place. Effect of surgery and treatment were evaluated using a mixed model statistical approach. Results No cats required rescue analgesics based on subjective pain score. ER-Bup had a positive influence on subjective pain scores during the 72 h postsurgery (p = 0.0473). PVF and VI of the operated limb were significantly decreased for both landing (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001) and walking (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001 respectively) compared to control. ER-Bup resulted in significantly decreased asymmetry in limb use during landing (PVF, p < 0.0001; VI, p < 0.0001) and walking (PVF, p = 0.0002, VI, p < 0.0001). The novel use of data collected following a jump from an elevated platform appeared to provide all desired information and was easier to collect than walking data. Conclusion This study demonstrates that SC administration of ER-Bup may be an effective analgesic for a 72 h period postoperatively. Furthermore, landing onto a PSW from an elevated perch may be a useful and efficient way to assess analgesics in cats using a unilateral model of limb pain

Étude de la variabilité agromorphologique de la collection nationale de mils locaux du Sénégal

Objectif : Le mil est la première culture vivrière au Sénégal. Il joue un rôle capital dans la vie des populations rurales qui en dépendent pour leur survie (STAT/FAO/SENEGAL, 2010). Il est cultivé sur plus 60% des terres arables. Les variétés locales étaient les plus utilisées mais depuis quelques années leur survie est menacée par l'introduction des variétés améliorées.Methodology et application des résultats : Pour éviter l'érosion génétique, des missions de collecte ont été organisées en 1994 et 2006 dans les principales zones de culture du mil. Le matériel collecté est caractérisé pour faciliter leur utilisation dans les programmes de création variétale. L'objectif du présent travail est caractériser le germoplasme national mil du Sénégal pour les rendre utilisables par les sélectionneurs pour la création de nouvelles variétés hautement productives pour l'augmentation de la production céréalière et l'atteinte de la sécurité alimentaire. Pour caractériser les accessions, 12 variables sélectionnées à partir du Descripteur du mil IPGRI/ICRISAT, 1993 ont été utilisées. Un dispositif expérimental en blocs complets randomisés avec 3 répétitions a été choisi et les sites d'essais étaient Bambey, Nioro et Darou pendant les hivernages 2011 et 2012. Les analyses descriptives ou qualitatives ; statistiques simples (ANOVA) ; de la diversité (phénologique ; génétique avec la méthode de la classification ascendante (CAH), avec les composantes principales (ACP) et l'analyse factorielle discriminante (AFD)) ont été réalisées avec les logiciels Genstat Discovery4 et R. Les analyses descriptives ont montré l'existence d'une grande variabilité entre les accessions pour les caractères qualitatifs comme l'architecture de l'épi et la couleur des grains. Les analyses statistiques simples (ANOVA) ont montré qu'il existe une différence hautement significative entre les entrées et les sites. Cependant, les interactions étaient non significatives à l'exception de la floraison, de l'indice de récolte et des rendements en grains et en matière sèche. Les analyses de la diversité phénologique a permis de classer les variétés en trois groupes selon le cycle végétatif (G1 des variétés extra-précoces, G2 des cycles courts et G3 des cycles longs). La classification ascendante hiérarchique (CAH) suivant la méthode de Ward a permis d'identifier la valeur des axes et les compositions des 3 groupes y découlant (le groupe G1 compte 106 accessions, le G2 compte 129 accessions et le G3 compte 8 accessions) et de tracer le dendrogramme de filiations. L'analyse de la diversité génétique par les composantes principales (ACP) a permis de déterminer la position des accessions par rapport aux axes expliquant les variabilités inter-accessions. L'analyse de la diversité génétique par la méthode factorielle discriminante a permis de déterminer la structuration de la diversité agromorphologique et la représentation graphique des accessions suivant un plan factoriel. Les groupes ainsi formés seront convertis en des entités hétérotiques constituées de pools de gènes différents où les sélectionneurs et autres scientifiques vont puiser pour créer des variétés hautement productives et résistantes aux stress bio et abiotiques afin de nourrir les populations et de lutter contre la faim et la malnutrition

Search for astrophysical electron antineutrinos in Super-Kamiokande with 0.01% Gadolinium-loaded water

We report the first search result for the flux of astrophysical electron antineutrinos for energies ${ \mathcal O }(10)\,\mathrm{MeV}$ in the gadolinium-loaded Super-Kamiokande (SK) detector. In 2020 June, gadolinium was introduced to the ultrapure water of the SK detector in order to detect neutrons more efficiently. In this new experimental phase, SK-Gd, we can search for electron antineutrinos via inverse beta decay with efficient background rejection thanks to the high efficiency of the neutron tagging technique. In this paper, we report the result for the initial stage of SK-Gd, during 2020 August 26, and 2022 June 1 with a 22.5 × 552 kton · day exposure at 0.01% Gd mass concentration. No significant excess over the expected background in the observed events is found for the neutrino energies below 31.3 MeV. Thus, the flux upper limits are placed at the 90% confidence level. The limits and sensitivities are already comparable with the previous SK result with pure water (22.5 × 2970 kton · day) owing to the enhanced neutron tagging. Operation with Gd increased to 0.03% started in 2022 June

Extension of a Multiscale Particle Scheme to Near-Equilibrium Viscous Flows

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76880/1/AIAA-40262-641.pd

Improving the production and utilization of sorghum and pearl millet as livestock feed: methodological problems and possible solutions

The overall objective of this work was the identification of simple, yet accurate, assessments of fodder quality of sorghum and pearl millet stover in crop improvement programs. Stover from 12 genotypes of sorghum and six genotypes of pearl millet grown under high and low fertilizer application was investigated for nitrogen, cell wall constituents, sugar, plant height, stem diameter, leaf number per plant and extent and rate of in vitro gas production of whole stover and of stover cell walls. Organic matter digestibility, organic matter intake, digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and cell wall digestibility were measured in bulls. Significant genotypic variation was found for chemical, morphological and in vitro fermentation characteristics of stover but their relationship with digestibility and intake measurements was generally poor. While no single chemical, morphological or in vitro measurement described stover quality adequately, some combinations of these measurements resulted in good overall relationships with stover quality measurements. Across sorghum and pearl millet, 71% (P<0.0001) of the variation in stover cell wall digestibility in bulls was accounted by the lag phase of in vitro gas production from cell wall preparations and by acid detergent lignin and acid detergent fiber content of stover. In pearl millet, 98% (P<0.0001) of the variation in DOMI in bulls was accounted for nitrogen, lag phase and maximum rate of gas production and neutral detergent fiber content. The paper further discusses relationships between indirect animal performance measurements such as digestibility and voluntary feed intake (VFI) and animal productivity, e.g. live weight gain. VFI is shown to be a more crucial quality assessment in crop residues than digestibility and the relationship between both measurements was shown to be poor. It is argued that crop improvement programs should validate laboratory techniques as well as indirect animal performance measurements with direct animal performance measurements such as milk or meat production before deciding on laboratory selection criteri

Discerning combining ability loci for divergent environments using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) in pearl millet

Pearl millet is an important crop for arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Genomic regions associated with combining ability for yield-related traits under irrigated and drought conditions are useful in heterosis breeding programs. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are excellent genetic resources for precise QTL mapping and identifying naturally occurring favorable alleles. In the present study, testcross hybrid populations of 85 CSSLs were evaluated for 15 grain and stover yield-related traits for summer and wet seasons under irrigated control (CN) and moisture stress (MS) conditions. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects of all these traits were estimated and significant marker loci linked to GCA and SCA of the traits were identified. Heritability of the traits ranged from 53–94% in CN and 63–94% in MS. A total of 40 significant GCA loci and 36 significant SCA loci were identified for 14 different traits. Five QTLs (flowering time, panicle number and panicle yield linked to Xpsmp716 on LG4, flowering time and grain number per panicle with Xpsmp2076 on LG4) simultaneously controlled both GCA and SCA, demonstrating their unique genetic basis and usefulness for hybrid breeding programs. This study for the first time demonstrated the potential of a set of CSSLs for trait mapping in pearl millet. The novel combining ability loci linked with GCA and SCA values of the traits identified in this study may be useful in pearl millet hybrid and population improvement programs using marker-assisted selection (MAS)

Testing of a Wireless Sensor System for Instrumented Thermal Protection Systems

Funded by NASA's Constellation Universities Institutes Project (CUIP), we have been developing and testing a system to wirelessly power and collect data from sensors on space platforms in general and, in particular, the harsh environment of spacecraft re-entry. The elimination of wires and associated failures such as chafing, sparking, ageing, and connector issues can increase reliability and design flexibility while reducing costs. These factors present an appealing case for the pursuit of wireless solutions for harsh environments, particularly for their use in space and on spacecraft. We have designed and built a prototype wireless sensor system. The system, with capabilities similar to that of a wired sensor system, was tested in NASA Ames Research Center s Aerodynamic Heating Facility and Interaction Heating Facility. This paper discusses the overall development effort, testing results, as well as future directions

The Moment Guided Monte Carlo method for the Boltzmann equation

In this work we propose a generalization of the Moment Guided Monte Carlo method developed in [11]. This approach permits to reduce the variance of the particle methods through a matching with a set of suitable macroscopic moment equations. In order to guarantee that the moment equations provide the correct solutions, they are coupled to the kinetic equation through a non equilibrium term. Here, at the contrary to the previous work in which we considered the simplified BGK operator, we deal with the full Boltzmann operator. Moreover, we introduce an hybrid setting which permits to entirely remove the resolution of the kinetic equation in the limit of infinite number of collisions and to consider only the solution of the compressible Euler equation. This modification additionally reduce the statistical error with respect to our previous work and permits to perform simulations of non equilibrium gases using only a few number of particles. We show at the end of the paper several numerical tests which prove the efficiency and the low level of numerical noise of the method.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:0908.026