Genetic Dissection of Sympatric Populations of Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), Using DALP-PCR Molecular Markers

Direct amplified length polymorphism (DALP) combines the advantages of a high-resolution fingerprint method and also characterizing the genetic polymorphisms. This molecular method was also found to be useful in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens species complex for the analysis of genetic polymorphisms. A total of 11 populations of Nilaparvata spp. were collected from 6 locations from Malaysia. Two sympatric populations of brown planthopper, N. lugens, one from rice and the other from a weed grass (Leersia hexandra), were collected from each of five locations. N. bakeri was used as an out group. Three oligonucleotide primer pairs, DALP231/DALPR′5, DALP234/DALPR′5, and DALP235/DALPR′5 were applied in this study. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram based on genetic distances for the 11 populations of Nilaparvata spp. revealed that populations belonging to the same species and the same host type clustered together irrespective of their geographical localities of capture. The populations of N. lugens formed into two distinct clusters, one was insects with high esterase activities usually captured from rice and the other was with low esterase activities usually captured from L. hexandra. N. bakeri, an out group, was the most isolated group. Analyses of principal components, molecular variance, and robustness also supported greatly to the findings of cluster analysis

Isolation, Characterization and Application of DNA Microsatellite Markers in Mungbean (Vigna Radiata L. Wilczek) and Other Selected Legumes

Mungbean (subgenus Ceratotropis) is an important food source in many parts of the world, particularly in Asia and Southeast Asia. It is an important source of plant protein and calcium, and is a good substitute for meat. Although it is an important crop, little is known about its genetic background. DNA markers, in particular micro satellites, are able to provide insights regarding the genetic structure and background of populations and thus would be of great benefit in mungbean improvement programs. Three techniques were used to isolate micro satellite loci in mungbean, namely direct amplification of length polymorphism (DALP), 5' anchored PCR and random hybridizing micro satellites (RAHM). A total of 107 repeat sequences were identified of which 80% were micro satellite loci and 20% were cryptic simple regions. The majority of micro satellites were found using the 5' anchored PCR procedure which proved to be the most efficient technique in the present study, while DALP did not produce any microsatellite

Cytogenetics of Premature Ovarian Failure: An Investigation on 269 Affected Women

The importance of X chromosome in the aetiology of premature ovarian failure (POF) is well-known but in many cases POF still remains idiopathic. Chromosome aneuploidy increase is a physiological phenomenon related to aging, but the role of low-level sex chromosome mosaicism in ovarian function is still undiscovered. Standard cytogenetic analysis was carried out in a total of 269 patients affected by POF: 27 chromosomal abnormalities were identified, including X chromosome and autosomal structural and numerical abnormalities. In 47 patients with 46,XX karyotype we performed interphase FISH using X alpha-satellite probe in order to identify X chromosome mosaicism rate. Aneuploidy rate in the patient group was significantly higher than the general population group. These findings underline the importance of X chromosome in the aetiology of POF and highlight the potential role of low-level sex chromosome mosaicism in ovarian aging that may lead to a premature onset of menopause

Génétique des populations de Beryx splendens de la zone économique de la Nouvelle-Calédonie : distribution des haplotypes du gène du cytochrome b de l'ADN mitochondrial et analyse phylogénétique de leurs séquences

La délimitation géographique des populations, établie sur les bases biologiques, est nécessaire à toute gestion rationnelle des pêcheries. Tel est le cas pour #Beryx splendens, ressource pour laquelle la mise en évidence de différentes populations dans la zone économique (ZE) de Nouvelle-Calédonie serait essentielle pour en éviter la surexploitation. L'ADN mitochondrial a été choisi comme marqueur génétique de la structure géographique de #B. splendens sur les monts sous-marins de la ZE de Nouvelle-Calédonie. (D'après résumé d'auteur

Carcass and meat parameters in Cornigliese sheep breed as affected by sex and age-class

A total of 72 animals from Cornigliese sheep breed were reared under homogeneous conditions, with the aim to assess the effect of sex (males, females) and age-class (heavy lambs, adults) on carcass and meat parameters. A model with fixed effects of herd, sex, slaughtering session, age-class and interaction (sex*age-class) was used; for slaughter data, the carcass weight was used as a covariate. The age-class effect was significant for most of the carcass measurements, indicating a late development in animals. Also, slaughter performance was significantly affected by age-class, with higher values (p<0.05) of hot carcass yield shown by heavy lambs than by adults. Carcass compactness index was lower in heavy lambs than in adults (p<0.001), and the lowest value (0.283; p<0.05) appeared in female heavy lambs. The percentage of fat trimmings in carcass and the tissue composition of sample cut were influenced by a significant interaction between age-class and sex (p<0.05): in males the age-class never affected the tissue composition of sample cut, as in females the muscle and fat percentages increased with age while the bone percentage decreased. The fat content of loin meat increased with age in females (p < 0.05) and decreased in males (p < 0.05). The poly-unsaturated fatty acids (FA) content of loin meat was higher in males than in females (p < 0.001), with saturated FA and mono-unsaturated FA revealing significant interactions between age-class and sex (p < 0.05). In conclusion, future implementation of genetic selection, oriented towards the improvement of meat production characteristics that are potentially present in the breed, is important

Tax efficient supply chain

This case started with the following question: How supply chains and tax policy interact? This question was the starting point for this study and was developed under the areas of Logistics and International Tax Policy. In order to support this study, the adopted methodology was the selection of a Multinational company – LPR Portugal – which has the transportation and distribution in the European Union as a scope of service and the customer satisfaction as the main value. LPR is a market leader, with business in 12 countries of European Union and also has subsidiaries in 8 countries. It is established in the market for more than 15 years, with a good market consolidation and high reputation. The study of LPR, as a case study, will allow a better understanding of the situation of an international company in terms of logistics and international policy. During this study, qualitative data were used and obtained through LPR Portugal and EY Portugal. The results from the data shows that supply chain management and international tax policy are not a well developed topic. As short, this study requires a reflection about how logistic and tax policy interacts, taking into consideration the international perspective. This study presents as a useful and practical tool by collecting questions that will allow a better understanding and analyzis of the problem.O presente caso de estudo teve como ponto de partida a seguinte questão: Como é que cadeia de abastecimento e a fiscal interagem? Esta questão serviu como ponto de partida à elaboração deste estudo e foi desenvolvida no âmbito da Fiscalidade e da Logística. A metodologia adoptada baseou-se na selecção de uma multinacional portuguesa, a LPR, que exerce uma actividade na área de transporte e de distribuição em toda a União Europeia, e que tem como principal valor, a satisfação do cliente. A LPR é uma empresa líder de mercado, está presente em mais de 12 países e têm filiais espalhadas por 8 países. Está presente no mercado há mais de 15 anos, uma boa consolidação de mercado e uma elevada notoriedade. O estudo da LPR, irá permitir uma maior compreensão da realidade de uma empresa internacional e os seus problemas em termos fiscais e logísticos. A análise do presente estudo integrou dados qualitativos, que foram obtidos através da LPR Portugal e da EY Portugal. Os resultados dos dados demonstram que a implementação de uma cadeia de abastecimento que tenha em consideração a política fiscal internacional ainda se encontra numa fase embrionária. Em suma, o estudo apresentado exige uma reflecção sobre a forma como as áreas de logística e fiscalidade estão relacionadas, tendo em conta, a realidade internacional. Este estudo apresenta-se assim como um instrumento útil e prático, sistematizando questões que permitam a consolidação dos conhecimentos e o desenvolvimento da capacidade de análise

The cooling of atomic and molecular gas in DR21

We present an overview of a high-mass star formation region through the major (sub-)mm, and far-infrared cooling lines to gain insight into the physical conditions and the energy budget of the molecular cloud. We used the KOSMA 3m telescope to map the core ($10'\times 14'$) of the Galactic star forming region DR 21/DR 21 (OH) in the Cygnus X region in the two fine structure lines of atomic carbon CI and four mid-$J$ transitions of CO and $^{13}$CO, and CS J=7\TO6. These observations have been combined with FCRAO J=1\TO0 observations of $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O. Five positions, including DR21, DR21 (OH), and DR21 FIR1, were observed with the ISO/LWS grating spectrometer in the \OI 63 and 145 $\mu$m lines, the \CII 158 $\mu$m line, and four high-$J$ CO lines. We discuss the intensities and line ratios at these positions and apply Local Thermal Equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE analysis methods in order to derive physical parameters such as masses, densities and temperatures. The CO line emission has been modeled up to J=20. From non-LTE modeling of the low- to high-$J$ CO lines we identify two gas components, a cold one at temperatures of T_\RM{kin}\sim 30-40 K, and one with T_\RM{kin}\sim 80-150 K at a local clump density of about n(H$_2$)$\sim 10^4-10^6$ cm$^{-3}$. While the cold quiescent component is massive containing typically more than 94 % of the mass, the warm, dense, and turbulent gas is dominated by mid- and high-$J$ CO line emission and its large line widths. The medium must be clumpy with a volume-filling of a few percent. The CO lines are found to be important for the cooling of the cold molecular gas, e.g. at DR21 (OH). Near the outflow of the UV-heated source DR21, the gas cooling is dominated by line emission of atomic oxygen and of CO

Update on the Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics of Skull Base Chordoma

Chordomas are rare, low-to-intermediate grade malignant tumors arising from notochordal remnants in the midline skeletal axis. They account for <1% of central nervous system tumors and <5% of all primary malignant bone tumors. It is characterized by slow growth, local recurrence, and low metastasis rates. An increasing variety of techniques is now available to detect genetic alterations in chordomas, herein, we review the current knowledge of the genetic alterations in the skull base chordomas. The distribution of copy number changes is composed by two approaches; the low-resolution banding karyotyping and high-resolution whole genome CGH approach. The mapping of candidate genes in chordoma genesis awaits the application of high resolution targeted approaches. Chromosome 1p36.13 and 7q33 represent a candidate region for a chordoma gene. In gene expression study, many genes, such as HER2/neu, epidermal growth factor receptor, c-Met, platelet-derived growth factor receptor A and B, KIT receptors, E-cadherin, neural cell adhesion molecule, progesterone receptor B, estrogen receptor alpha, transforming growth factor alpha and basic fibroblast growth factor, fibronectin, and Cathepsin K, are differentially expressed and act a potential therapeutic targetope

Resveratrol, cancer and cancer stem cells: A review on past to future

Cancer remains to be an unresolved medical challenge despite of tremendous advancement in basic science research and clinical medicine. One of the major limitations is due to the side effects of chemotherapy which remains to be palliative without offering any permanent cure for cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the subpopulation of cells in tumors that remain viable even after surgery, chemo- and radio-therapy that eventually responsible for tumor relapse. Hence, by eliminating non-stem cancer cells and cancer stem cells from the patient, permanent cure is expected. Phytochemicals have been under the intensive study to target these CSCs effectively and permanently as they do not cause any side effects. Resveratrol (RSV) is one such compound attaining lot of interest in recent days to target CSCs either alone or in combination. RSV has been used by several researchers to target cancer cells in a variety of disease models, however its CSC targeting abilities are under intensive study at present. This review is to summarize the effects of RSV under in vitro and in vivo conditions along with advantages and disadvantages of its uses against cancer cells and cancer stem cells. From the first reports on phytochemical applications against cancer and cancer stem cells in 1997 and 2002 respectively followed by later reports, up to date observations and developments are enlisted from PubMed in this comprehensive review. RSV is shown to be a potential compound having impact on altering the signal transduction pathways in cancer cells. However, the effects are variable under in vitro and in vivo conditions, and also with its use alone or in combination with other small molecules. Past research on RSV is emphasizing the importance of in vivo experimental models and clinical trials with different prospective combinations, is a hope for future promising treatment regimen