Consequences of paternally inherited effects on the genetic evaluation of maternal effects

Background: Mixed models are commonly used for the estimation of variance components and genetic evaluation of livestock populations. Some evaluation models include two types of additive genetic effects, direct and maternal. Estimates of variance components obtained with models that account for maternal effects have been the subject of a long-standing controversy about strong negative estimates of the covariance between direct and maternal effects. Genomic imprinting is known to be in some cases statistically confounded with maternal effects. In this study, we analysed the consequences of ignoring paternally inherited effects on the partitioning of genetic variance. Results: We showed that the existence of paternal parent-of-origin effects can bias the estimation of variance components when maternal effects are included in the evaluation model. Specifically, we demonstrated that adding a constraint on the genetic parameters of a maternal model resulted in correlations between relatives that were the same as those obtained with a model that fits only paternally inherited effects for most pairs of individuals, as in livestock pedigrees. The main consequence is an upward bias in the estimates of the direct and maternal additive genetic variances and a downward bias in the direct-maternal genetic covariance. This was confirmed by a simulation study that investigated five scenarios, with the trait affected by (1) only additive genetic effects, (2) only paternally inherited effects, (3) additive genetic and paternally inherited effects, (4) direct and maternal additive genetic effects and (5) direct and maternal additive genetic plus paternally inherited effects. For each scenario, the existence of a paternally inherited effect not accounted for by the estimation model resulted in a partitioning of the genetic variance according to the predicted pattern. In addition, a model comparison test confirmed that direct and maternal additive models and paternally inherited models provided an equivalent fit. Conclusions: Ignoring paternally inherited effects in the maternal models for genetic evaluation can lead to a specific pattern of bias in variance component estimates, which may account for the unexpectedly strong negative direct-maternal genetic correlations that are typically reported in the literature

A bayesian model for the analysis of transgenerational epigenetic variation

477-485Epigenetics has become one of the major areas of biological research. However, the degree of phenotypic variability that is explained by epigenetic processes still remains unclear. From a quantitative genetics perspective, the estimation of variance components is achieved by means of the information provided by the resemblance between relatives. In a previous study, this resemblance was described as a function of the epigenetic variance component and a reset coefficient that indicates the rate of dissipation of epigenetic marks across generations. Given these assumptions, we propose a Bayesian mixed model methodology that allows the estimation of epigenetic variance from a genealogical and phenotypic database. The methodology is based on the development of a T matrix of epigenetic relationships that depends on the reset coefficient. In addition, we present a simple procedure for the calculation of the inverse of this matrix (T-1) and a Gibbs sampler algorithm that obtains posterior estimates of all the unknowns in the model. The new procedure was used with two simulated data sets and with a beef cattle database. In the simulated populations, the results of the analysis provided marginal posterior distributions that included the population parameters in the regions of highest posterior density. In the case of the beef cattle dataset, the posterior estimate of transgenerational epigenetic variability was very low and a model comparison test indicated that a model that did not included it was the most plausible

Corporate Culture and Its Connection with External and Internal Public Relations

The main aim of this article is to present the influence of corporate culture on company's stakeholders. This paper signalises the tendency in corporate communication with its internal and external publics. It is focused on two issues: corporate social responsibility and employer branding. Those two categories are consequences of corporate culture model.Głównym celem artykułu jest zaprezentowanie wpływu jaki wywiera charakter kultury korporacyjnej na związanych z przedsiębiorstwem interesariuszy (stakeholders). W artykule zasygnalizowane zostały główne tendencje wyznaczające charakter komunikacji między organizacją a jej wewnętrznym i zewnętrznym otoczeniem. Tekst koncentruje się na dwóch kwestiach: społecznej odpowiedzialności przedsiębiorstwa (corporate social responsibilty) i budowanie wizerunku pracodawcy (employer branding), które zaprezentowane zostały jako efekty określonego modelu kultury organizacyjnej

A microcomputer-based control system for electric vehicles

This paper describes a microcomputer-based algorithm used to control a dc separately excited motor for electric vehicle drive. The control programme consists essentially of two secondary programmes which perform respectively the command, and the output decision making tasks. The algorithm simulation on a Hewlett-Packard Model 64000 Logic Development System showed that it was possible to achieve an average execution time of 1 millisecond which is very short when compared to the mechanical time constant of the motor.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A microprocessor-based speed controller for DC motors

The introduction of microprocessors into electric vehicles has opened many interesting possibilities for improving the operation and maintenance of such automotive systems. On the other hand, microcomputer-based motor control systems are playing an ever increasing role in research on applied electronics. In this paper, a microcomputer-based digital dynamic control system (DDC) for a de motor is described. The description includes motor identification and corrector digital implementation, as well as precision analysis of the control system. The influence of poles and corrector gain on the system response is also presented, this allows the choice of appropriate parameters for the design of a lag-lead controller. The application of such a controller with a low power dc motor verifies the theoretical approach and reveals the necessary information to analyse the speed control system stability of a chopper-fed de motor using the same controller.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Detección de regiones genómicas con elevado desequilibrio de ligamiento en poblaciones de vacuno de carne españolas con análisis de BovineHD BeadChip

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el patrón de desequilibrio de ligamiento a lo largo del genoma en siete poblaciones españolas autóctonas de vacuno de carne (Asturiana de los Valles, Avileña Negra-Ibérica, Bruna dels Pirineus, Morucha, Pirenaica, Retinta y Rubia Gallega). Para ello, se utilizó el BovineHD BeadChip con el que se genotiparon 171 tríos formados por individuo/padre/madre. Después del filtrado, se dispuso de 573.134 SNP. A partir de esta información se definió un parámetro que mide el desequilibrio medio del genoma por regiones de 1Mb en cada una de las poblaciones. Los resultados mostraron que el desequilibrio de ligamiento es muy heterogéneo a lo largo del genoma y que, además, esta heterogeneidad es consistente entre poblaciones. Las causas de esta heterogeneidad pueden ser, o bien estructurales y atribuibles a una menor tasa de mutación y/o recombinación, o bien consecuencia de procesos de selección estabilizadora. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pattern of linkage disequilibrium along the genome in seven autochthonous Spanish cattle beef populations (Asturiana de los Valles, Avileña Negra-Ibérica, Bruna dels Pirineus, Morucha, Pirenaica, Retinta and Rubia Gallega). The BovineHD BeadChip was used to genotype 171 trios of individual/sire/dam. 573, 134 SNPs were available after filtering. With this information, a parameter that measures the mean disequilibrium of the genome in regions of 1 Mb in each population was defined. The results show that the linkage disequilibrium is very heterogeneous along the genome, and this heterogeneity is consistent among the considered populations. The causes of this heterogeneity could be structural, and attributed to a lower mutation rate and/or recombination rate, or a result of stabilizing selection

Detección de regiones genómicas con elevado desequilibrio de ligamiento en poblaciones de vacuno de carne españolas con análisis de BovineHD BeadChip

Mouresan, E. F. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.González Rodríguez, A. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Munilla, Sebastián. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Moreno, C. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Altarriba, J. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Díaz, C. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA). Mejora Genética Animal. Madrid, España.Baro, J. A. Universidad de Valladolid. Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales. Producción Animal. Valladolid. España.Piedrafita, J. Universitad Autónoma de Barcelona. Ciencia Animal y de los Alimentos. Barcelona, España.Molina, A. Universidad de Córdoba. Departamento de Genética. Córdoba. Spain.Cañas Alvarez, J. J. Universitad Autónoma de Barcelona. Ciencia Animal y de los Alimentos. Barcelona, España.Varona, L. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.59-65El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el patrón de desequilibrio de ligamiento a lo largo del genoma en siete poblaciones españolas autóctonas de vacuno de carne (Asturiana de los Valles, Avileña Negra - Ibérica, Bruna dels Pirineus, Morucha, Pirenaica, Retinta y Rubia Gallega). Para ello, se utilizó el BovineHD BeadChip con el que se genotiparon 171 tríos formados por individuo/padre/madre. Después del filtrado, se dispuso de 573.134 SNP. A partir de esta información se definió un parámetro que mide el desequilibrio medio del genoma por regiones de 1Mb en cada una de las poblaciones. Los resultados mostraron que el desequilibrio de ligamiento es muy heterogéneo a lo largo del genoma y que, además, esta heterogeneidad es consistente entre poblaciones. Las causas de esta heterogeneidad pueden ser, o bien estructurales y atribuibles a una menor tasa de mutación y/o recombinación, o bien consecuencia de procesos de selección estabilizadora

Detección de regiones genómicas con elevado desequilibrio de ligamiento en poblaciones de vacuno de carne españolas con análisis de BovineHD BeadChip

Mouresan, E. F. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.González Rodríguez, A. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Munilla, Sebastián. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Moreno, C. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Altarriba, J. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.Díaz, C. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA). Mejora Genética Animal. Madrid, España.Baro, J. A. Universidad de Valladolid. Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales. Producción Animal. Valladolid. España.Piedrafita, J. Universitad Autónoma de Barcelona. Ciencia Animal y de los Alimentos. Barcelona, España.Molina, A. Universidad de Córdoba. Departamento de Genética. Córdoba. Spain.Cañas Alvarez, J. J. Universitad Autónoma de Barcelona. Ciencia Animal y de los Alimentos. Barcelona, España.Varona, L. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria. Unidad de Mejora Genética. Zaragoza, España.59-65El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el patrón de desequilibrio de ligamiento a lo largo del genoma en siete poblaciones españolas autóctonas de vacuno de carne (Asturiana de los Valles, Avileña Negra - Ibérica, Bruna dels Pirineus, Morucha, Pirenaica, Retinta y Rubia Gallega). Para ello, se utilizó el BovineHD BeadChip con el que se genotiparon 171 tríos formados por individuo/padre/madre. Después del filtrado, se dispuso de 573.134 SNP. A partir de esta información se definió un parámetro que mide el desequilibrio medio del genoma por regiones de 1Mb en cada una de las poblaciones. Los resultados mostraron que el desequilibrio de ligamiento es muy heterogéneo a lo largo del genoma y que, además, esta heterogeneidad es consistente entre poblaciones. Las causas de esta heterogeneidad pueden ser, o bien estructurales y atribuibles a una menor tasa de mutación y/o recombinación, o bien consecuencia de procesos de selección estabilizadora

Optimal Proximity Proofs Revisited

Distance bounding protocols become important since wireless technologies become more and more common. Therefore, the security of the distance bounding protocol should be carefully analyzed. However, most of the protocols are not secure or their security is proven informally. Recently, Boureanu and Vaudenay defined the common structure which is commonly followed by most of the distance bounding protocols: answers to challenges are accepted if they are correct and on time. They further analyzed the optimal security that we can achieve in this structure and proposed DBopt which reaches the optimal security bounds. In this paper, we define three new structures: when the prover registers the time of a challenge, when the verifier randomizes the sending time of the challenge, and the combined structure. Then, we show the optimal security bounds against distance fraud and mafia fraud which are lower than the bounds showed by Boureanu and Vaudenay for the common structure. Finally, we adapt the DBopt protocol according to our new structures and we get three new distance bounding protocols. All of them are proven formally. In the end, we compare the performance of the new protocols with DBopt and we see that we have a better efficiency. For instance, we can reduce the number of rounds in DB2 (one of the instances of DBopt) from $123$ to $5$ with the same security

HE-LHC: The High-Energy Large Hadron Collider – Future Circular Collider Conceptual Design Report Volume 4

In response to the 2013 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics (EPPSU), the Future Circular Collider (FCC) study was launched as a world-wide international collaboration hosted by CERN. The FCC study covered an energy-frontier hadron collider (FCC-hh), a highest-luminosity high-energy lepton collider (FCC-ee), the corresponding 100 km tunnel infrastructure, as well as the physics opportunities of these two colliders, and a high-energy LHC, based on FCC-hh technology. This document constitutes the third volume of the FCC Conceptual Design Report, devoted to the hadron collider FCC-hh. It summarizes the FCC-hh physics discovery opportunities, presents the FCC-hh accelerator design, performance reach, and staged operation plan, discusses the underlying technologies, the civil engineering and technical infrastructure, and also sketches a possible implementation. Combining ingredients from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the high-luminosity LHC upgrade and adding novel technologies and approaches, the FCC-hh design aims at significantly extending the energy frontier to 100 TeV. Its unprecedented centre-of-mass collision energy will make the FCC-hh a unique instrument to explore physics beyond the Standard Model, offering great direct sensitivity to new physics and discoveries