BIPLOT ANALYSIS OF LEAF RUST RESISTANCE IN PURE LINES SELECTED FROM EASTERN ANATOLIAN BREAD WHEAT LANDRACES OF TURKEY

WOS: 000418419700009The present research was conducted to determine the reactions of 42 pure lines selected from bread wheat landraces of Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, against the leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) disease under field conditions across 7 environments. G (Genotype), GE (Genotype Environment) biplot analysis method was used to determine the reactions of landraces against leaf rust disease. GGE-biplot graph created to assess leaf rust disease was explained a 78.12% of total variation. While E3 and E2 constituted the first and second mega environments respectively, the other four environments constituted the third and fourth mega environments. The lowest PC1 values and PC2 values close to 0.0 explaining the resistance of pure lines to leaf rust at best in the biplot. Reactions of landraces varied based on their distance from the Average Environment Axis (AEA). While the pure lines with the same or similar reactions in 7 experimental environments fell close to the axis, ones with different reactions in one or more environments were relatively distant. The pure lines of EA15 and EA19 were identified as the most resistant and stable genotypes in all environments when EA42 and EA41 were the most susceptible/stable genotypes in all environments. Pure lines that were resistant or moderately resistant at all seven tested environments should be useful for breeding wheat cultivars with resistance to leaf rust in Turkey.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [111O255]; TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK)This research was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, project number 111O255). The authors thank TUBITAK for their financial support

Examining the link between carbon dioxide emissions and the share of industry in GDP: Modeling and testing for the G-7 countries

In this paper, the relationship between per capita CO2 emissions and the share of industrial value added in gross domestic product (GDP) for the G-7 countries is discussed using a novel approach. It is assumed that per capita CO2 emissions are correspondent to the share of industrial value added in GDP. A model is developed using hidden Markov process to search this initial assumption. In the model, the data for industrial share in GDP are assigned to be the observations, while the data for per capita CO2 emissions represent the hidden process, which may be then predicted using the ratio of industrial value added to GDP. The data set covers the period from 1970 to 2008 and the model is tested for the G-7 countries. The study findings show that, except in the case of Canada, the hidden Markov model performs reasonably well in tracking per capita CO2 emissions. The study results provide also a basis for a number of policy implications.Carbon emissions Industrial production Hidden Markov models

A New Wind Turbine Generating System Model for Balanced and Unbalanced Distribution Systems Load Flow Analysis

Wind turbine generating systems (WTGSs), which are conventionally connected to high voltage transmission networks, have frequently been employed as distributed generation units in today’s distribution networks. In practice, the distribution networks always have unbalanced bus voltages and line currents due to uneven distribution of single or double phase loads over three phases and asymmetry of the lines, etc. Accordingly, in this study, for the load flow analysis of the distribution networks, Conventional Fixed speed Induction Generator (CFIG) based WTGS, one of the most widely used WTGS types, is modelled under unbalanced voltage conditions. The Developed model has active and reactive power expressions in terms of induction machine impedance parameters, terminal voltages and input power. The validity of the Developed model is confirmed with the experimental results obtained in a test system. The results of the slip calculation based phase-domain model (SCP Model), which was previously proposed in the literature for CFIG based WTGSs under unbalanced voltages, are also given for the comparison. Finally, the Developed model and the SCP model are implemented in the load flow analysis of the IEEE 34 bus test system with the CFIG based WTGSs and unbalanced loads. Thus, it is clearly pointed out that the results of the load flow analysis implemented with both models are very close to each other, and the Developed model is computationally more efficient than the SCP model

CD4+ T Cells of Myasthenia Gravis Patients Are Characterized by Increased IL-21, IL-4, and IL-17A Productions and Higher Presence of PD-1 and ICOS

© Copyright © 2020 Çebi, Durmus, Aysal, Özkan, Gül, Çakar, Hocaoglu, Mercan, Yentür, Tütüncü, Yayla, Akan, Dogan, Parman and Saruhan-Direskeneli.Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease mediated by autoantibodies predominantly against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Specific T cell subsets are required for long-term antibody responses, and cytokines secreted mainly from CD4+ T cells regulate B cell antibody production. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in the cytokine expressions of CD4+ T cells in MG patients with AChR antibodies (AChR-MG) and the effect of immunosuppressive (IS) therapy on cytokine activity and to test these findings also in MG patients without detectable antibodies (SN-MG). Clinically diagnosed AChR-MG and SN-MG patients were included. The AChR-MG patients were grouped as IS-positive and -negative and compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used for ex vivo intracellular cytokine production, and subsets of CD4+ T cells and circulating follicular helper T (cTfh) cells were detected phenotypically by the expression of the chemokine and the costimulatory receptors. Thymocytes obtained from patients who had thymectomy were also analyzed. IL-21, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17A productions in CD4+ T cells were increased in AChR-MG compared to those in healthy controls. IS treatment enhanced IL-10 and reduced IFN-γ production in AChR-MG patients compared to those in IS-negative patients. Increased IL-21 and IL-4 productions were also demonstrated in SN-MG patients. Among CD4+ T cells, Th17 cells were increased in both disease subgroups. Treatment induced higher proportions of Th2 cells in AChR-MG patients. Both CXCR5+ and CXCR5− CD4+ T cells expressed higher programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and inducible costimulatory (ICOS) in AChR-MG and SN-MG groups, mostly irrespective of the treatment. Based on chemokine receptors on CXCR5+PD-1+ in CD4+ T (cTfh) cells, in AChR-MG patients without treatment, the proportions of Tfh17 cells were higher than those in the treated group, whereas the Tfh1 cells were decreased compared with those in the controls. The relevance of CXCR5 and PD-1 in the pathogenesis of AChR-MG was also suggested by the increased presence of these molecules on mature CD4 single-positive thymocytes from the thymic samples. The study provides further evidence for the importance of IL-21, IL-17A, IL-4, and IL-10 in AChR-MG. Disease-related CD4+T cells are identified mainly as PD-1+ or ICOS+ with or without CXCR5, resembling cTfh cells in the circulation or probably in the thymus. AChR-MG and SN-MG seem to have some similar characteristics. IS treatment has distinctive effects on cytokine expression

Prognostic Role of the Pectoralis Musculature in Patients with COVID-19. A Multicenter Study

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of low skeletal muscle mass in patients with COVID-19 on relevant outcomes like 30-day mortality, need for intubation and need for intensive care unit admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this study, data from six centers were acquired. The acquired sample comprises 1138 patients. There were 547 women (48.1%) and 591 men (51.9%) with a mean age of 54.5 ± 18.8 years; median age, 55 years; range, 18–84 years). In every case, thoracic CT without intravenous application of contrast medium was performed. The following parameters of the pectoralis muscles were estimated: muscle area as a sum of the bilateral areas of the pectoralis major and minor muscles, muscle density, muscle index (PMI) (pectoralis muscle area divided by the patient's body height square) as a ratio pectoralis major and minor muscles divided by the patient's body height(2), and muscle gauge as PMI x muscle density. RESULTS: Overall, 220 patients (19.33%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. In 171 patients (15.03%), mechanical lung ventilation was performed. Finally, 154 patients (13.53%) died within the observation time of 30-day. All investigated parameters of pectoralis muscle were lower in the patients with unfavorable courses of Covid-19. All pectoralis muscle parameters were associated with 30-day mortality in multivariate analyses adjusted for age and sex: pectoralis muscle area, HR = 0.93 CI 95% (0.91–0.95) p < 0.001; pectoralis muscle density, HR = 0.94 CI 95% (0.93–0.96) p < 0.001; pectoralis muscle index, HR = 0.79 CI 95% (0.75–0.85) p < 0.001, pectoralis muscle gauge, HR = 0.995 CI 95% (0.99–0.996) p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: in COVID-19, survivors have larger areas and higher index, gauge and density of the pectoralis muscles in comparison to nonsurvivors. However, the analyzed muscle parameters cannot be used for prediction of disease courses

Tuberculin skin test positivity without tuberculosis contact: A major challenge in childhood

AimWorldwide, tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) commonly give false positive results for those who had been given the Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin vaccine such as is routinely administered in Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the patients referred to us who had positive TSTs despite lack of tuberculosis (TB) disease contacts