Consumer Preferences for Kiwiberries: Implications of Experimental Auctions

In the current global market, the development of novel products is important for staying competitive. The development of horticultural products often manifests as new cultivars. Gauging consumer interest is an important step in cultivar development because it is a resource-intensive process. The present study used an experimental auction to measure consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for novel fruit referred to as kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta) and explore consumer segmentation for their preferences. The mean WTP for 6-ounce packages of kiwiberries ranged from $1.63 to$2.19, depending on species and cultivar. Four groups of consumers were identified in relation to their WTP for kiwiberries. Using survey data, socio-demographic variables such as age, education, and neophobic attitudes were significantly different between the mixed kiwiberry price premium and kiwiberry discounting groups. These findings suggest that consumers with variety-seeking tendencies have a WTP for kiwiberries that is comparable to that for other berries. Marketing strategies for these groups are proposed

Toward the Elucidation of Cytoplasmic Diversity in North American Grape Breeding Programs

Plants have an intriguing tripartite genetic system: Nuclear genome 9 Mitochondria 9 Plastids and their interactions may impact germplasm breeding. In grapevine, the study of cytoplasmic genomes has been limited, and their role with respect to grapevine germplasm diversity has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the results of an analysis of the cytoplasmic diversity among 6073 individuals (comprising cultivars, interspecific hybrids and segregating progenies) are presented. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) was used to elucidate plastid and mitochondrial DNA sequences, and results were analyzed using multivariate techniques. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effects were annotated in reference to plastid and mitochondrial genome sequences. The cytoplasmic diversity identified was structured according to synthetic domestication groups (wine and raisin/table gr.ape types) and interspecific-hybridization-driven groups with introgression from North American Vitis species, identifying five cytoplasmic groups and four major clusters. Fifty-two SNP markers were used to describe the diversity of the germplasm. Ten organelle genes showed distinct SNP annotations and effect predictions, of which six were chloroplast-derived and three were mitochondrial genes, in addition to one mitochondrial SNP affecting a nonannotated open reading frame. The results suggest that the application of GBS will aid in the study of cytoplasmic genomes in grapevine, which will enable further studies on the role of cytoplasmic genomes in grapevine germplasm, and then allow the exploitation of these sources of diversity in breeding

Characterization of Nipah Virus from Outbreaks in Bangladesh, 2008–2010

New genotyping scheme facilitates classification of virus sequences

Pedigree reconstruction for triploid apple cultivars using single nucleotide polymorphism array data

Societal Impact Statement Many economically, culturally, and historically important apple cultivars are triploids, which have three copies of each chromosome instead of the more typical two copies in diploids. Despite their prevalence and importance, there have been conflicting reports regarding their origin and their ability to beget diploids. New genetic analysis methodologies outlined in this study have clarified the genetic origin of triploid apple cultivars and suggest that triploidy has been a dead end in historic apple pedigrees. The specific results of this study have resolved the pedigrees of many cultivars, including the famous English cultivar Cox's Orange Pippin and the oldest known US cultivar Roxbury Russet. Summary In apple (Malus × domestica), most cultivars are diploid, though a sizeable number are triploids, which tend to be stronger growing, more robust, and bear larger fruit. However, triploidy is also associated with strongly reduced fertility. Some recorded pedigrees for historical apple cultivars include triploids as parents of diploids, despite this reputation of poor fertility. This information, coupled with some initiatives using triploids in breeding efforts, result in confusion about how possible or common it is for triploids to be parents of diploid offspring. To date, no studies have systematically evaluated and identified pedigrees of triploid apple cultivars to resolve these contradictions. Here, we describe a method to make triploid genotype calls using Illumina Infinium single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data through a novel Python script: ploidyClassifier. SNP data for 219 unique triploids was compared alongside 2498 unique diploid apple accessions to conduct pedigree reconstruction. Unreduced gamete-donating parents were identified for over half of the triploid accessions. From those, reduced gamete-donating parents were identified for nearly half. Full or partial pedigrees for many classic triploids were uncovered, including that of the oldest known American cultivar, ‘Roxbury Russet’. All tested pedigrees from literature that listed triploids as parents of diploids were deemed false, including that of the well-known ‘Cox's Orange Pippin’, whose previously unreported second parent was also identified here as ‘Rosemary Russet’. These results together suggest that historic triploids are mostly or solely the product of diploid parentage and that triploidy has been a dead end in historic apple pedigrees

Contribution of Cystine-Glutamate Antiporters to the Psychotomimetic Effects of Phencyclidine

Altered glutamate signaling contributes to a myriad of neural disorders, including schizophrenia. While synaptic levels are intensely studied, nonvesicular release mechanisms, including cystine–glutamate exchange, maintain high steady-state glutamate levels in the extrasynaptic space. The existence of extrasynaptic receptors, including metabotropic group II glutamate receptors (mGluR), pose nonvesicular release mechanisms as unrecognized targets capable of contributing to pathological glutamate signaling. We tested the hypothesis that activation of cystine–glutamate antiporters using the cysteine prodrug N-acetylcysteine would blunt psychotomimetic effects in the rodent phencyclidine (PCP) model of schizophrenia. First, we demonstrate that PCP elevates extracellular glutamate in the prefrontal cortex, an effect that is blocked by N-acetylcysteine pretreatment. To determine the relevance of the above finding, we assessed social interaction and found that N-acetylcysteine reverses social withdrawal produced by repeated PCP. In a separate paradigm, acute PCP resulted in working memory deficits assessed using a discrete trial t-maze task, and this effect was also reversed by N-acetylcysteine pretreatment. The capacity of N-acetylcysteine to restore working memory was blocked by infusion of the cystine–glutamate antiporter inhibitor (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine into the prefrontal cortex or systemic administration of the group II mGluR antagonist LY341495 indicating that the effects of N-acetylcysteine requires cystine–glutamate exchange and group II mGluR activation. Finally, protein levels from postmortem tissue obtained from schizophrenic patients revealed significant changes in the level of xCT, the active subunit for cystine–glutamate exchange, in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These data advance cystine–glutamate antiporters as novel targets capable of reversing the psychotomimetic effects of PCP

Managing Potential Laboratory Exposure to Ebola Virus by Using a Patient Biocontainment Care Unit1

One-sentence summary for table of contents: Recommendations are needed for management of potential laboratory exposure to a Biosafety Level 4 pathogen

Walkability and self-rated health in primary care patients

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived walkability and overall self-rated health among patients who use community-based clinics. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a convenience sample in three community clinics. Forms were completed by 793 clinic patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis was to control for the effects of demographic variables and lifestyles. RESULTS: Perceiving the availability of places to walk was related to better self-rated health. The most important places were work (OR = 3.2), community center (OR = 3.12), park (OR = 2.45) and day care (OR = 2.05). Respondents who said they had zero (OR = .27) or one (OR = .49) place to walk were significantly less healthy than persons who said they had five or more places to walk. CONCLUSION: Persons who perceived that they had no place to walk were significantly less healthy than persons who thought they had at least one place to walk (OR = .39). Support for walkable neighborhoods and education of patients about options for walking may be in the best interests of community medicine patients

Effect of household-based drinking water chlorination on diarrhoea among children under five in Orissa, India: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Boiling, disinfecting, and filtering water within the home can improve the microbiological quality of drinking water among the hundreds of millions of people who rely on unsafe water supplies. However, the impact of these interventions on diarrhoea is unclear. Most studies using open trial designs have reported a protective effect on diarrhoea while blinded studies of household water treatment in low-income settings have found no such effect. However, none of those studies were powered to detect an impact among children under five and participants were followed-up over short periods of time. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of in-home water disinfection on diarrhoea among children under five. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a double-blind randomised controlled trial between November 2010 and December 2011. The study included 2,163 households and 2,986 children under five in rural and urban communities of Orissa, India. The intervention consisted of an intensive promotion campaign and free distribution of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) tablets during bi-monthly households visits. An independent evaluation team visited households monthly for one year to collect health data and water samples. The primary outcome was the longitudinal prevalence of diarrhoea (3-day point prevalence) among children aged under five. Weight-for-age was also measured at each visit to assess its potential as a proxy marker for diarrhoea. Adherence was monitored each month through caregiver's reports and the presence of residual free chlorine in the child's drinking water at the time of visit. On 20% of the total household visits, children's drinking water was assayed for thermotolerant coliforms (TTC), an indicator of faecal contamination. The primary analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. Binomial regression with a log link function and robust standard errors was used to compare prevalence of diarrhoea between arms. We used generalised estimating equations to account for clustering at the household level. The impact of the intervention on weight-for-age z scores (WAZ) was analysed using random effect linear regression. Over the follow-up period, 84,391 child-days of observations were recorded, representing 88% of total possible child-days of observation. The longitudinal prevalence of diarrhoea among intervention children was 1.69% compared to 1.74% among controls. After adjusting for clustering within household, the prevalence ratio of the intervention to control was 0.95 (95% CI 0.79-1.13). The mean WAZ was similar among children of the intervention and control groups (-1.586 versus -1.589, respectively). Among intervention households, 51% reported their child's drinking water to be treated with the tablets at the time of visit, though only 32% of water samples tested positive for residual chlorine. Faecal contamination of drinking water was lower among intervention households than controls (geometric mean TTC count of 50 [95% CI 44-57] per 100 ml compared to 122 [95% CI 107-139] per 100 ml among controls [p<0.001] [n = 4,546]). CONCLUSIONS: Our study was designed to overcome the shortcomings of previous double-blinded trials of household water treatment in low-income settings. The sample size was larger, the follow-up period longer, both urban and rural populations were included, and adherence and water quality were monitored extensively over time. These results provide no evidence that the intervention was protective against diarrhoea. Low compliance and modest reduction in water contamination may have contributed to the lack of effect. However, our findings are consistent with other blinded studies of similar interventions and raise additional questions about the actual health impact of household water treatment under these conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT01202383 Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

There and back again: historical perspective and future directions for Vaccinium breeding and research studies

The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) contains a wide diversity of culturally and economically important berry crop species. Consumer demand and scientific research in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have increased worldwide over the crops' relatively short domestication history (~100&nbsp;years). Other species, including bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and ohelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum) are largely still harvested from the wild but with crop improvement efforts underway. Here, we present a review article on these Vaccinium berry crops on topics that span taxonomy to genetics and genomics to breeding. We highlight the accomplishments made thus far for each of these crops, along their journey from the wild, and propose research areas and questions that will require investments by the community over the coming decades to guide future crop improvement efforts. New tools and resources are needed to underpin the development of superior cultivars that are not only more resilient to various environmental stresses and higher yielding, but also produce fruit that continue to meet a variety of consumer preferences, including fruit quality and health related trait